But clear and rational manner the nature and offices of conscience. though it was published near a hundred years ago, it is in very few hands. And indeed a great part of those that have read it complain of the length of it. An octavo volume of several hundred pages, upon so plain a subject, was likely to prove a trial of patience to most persons of understanding. It seems, therefore, there is still wanting a discourse upon the subject, short as well as clear. This, by the assistance of God, I will endeavour to supply, by showing, first, The nature of conscience; and then, The several sorts of it: after which I shall conclude with a few important directions. I. 1. And, first, I am to show the nature of conscience. This a very pious man in the last century (in his sermon on universal conscientiousness) describes in the following manner:- "This word, which literally signifies, knowing with another, excellently sets forth the scriptural notion of it. So Job xvi, 19, My witness is in heaven:' and so the apostle: Rom. ix, 1, 'I say the truth; my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost." In both places it is as if he had said, God witnesseth with my conscience. Conscience is placed in the middle, under God, and above man. It is a kind of silent reason ing of the mind, whereby those things which are judged to be right are approved of with pleasure; but those which are judged evil, are disapproved of with uneasiness.' This is a tribunal in the breast of men, to. accuse sinners, and excuse them that do well. 2. To view it in a somewhat different light: conscience, as well as the Latin word from which it is taken, and the Greek word, dovednoεws, necessarily imply, the knowledge of two or more things together: sup-pose the knowledge of our words and actions, and at the same time of their goodness or badness: if it be not rather the faculty whereby we know at once our actions and the quality of them. 3. Conscience, then, is that faculty, whereby we are at once conscious of our own thoughts, words, and actions; and of their merit or demerit, of their being good or bad; and, consequently, deserving either praise or censure. And some pleasure generally attends the former sentence; some uneasiness the latter but this varies exceedingly; according to education, and a thousand other circumstances. : 4. Can it be denied, that something of this is found in every man born into the world? And does it not appear as soon as the understanding opens? as soon as reason begins to dawn? Does not every one then begin to know that there is a difference between good and evil; how imperfect soever, the various circumstances of this sense of good and evil may be? Does not every man, for instance, know, unless blinded by the prejudices of education, (like the inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope,) that it is good to honour his parents? Do not all men, however uneducated or barbarous, allow, it is right to do to others, as we would have them do to us? And are not all who know this, condemned in their own mind, when they do any thing contrary thereto ? as, on the other hand, when they act suitable thereto, they have the approbation of their own conscience? 5. This faculty seems to be what is usually meant by those who speak of natural conscience: an expression frequently found in some of our best authors, but yet not strictly just. For though in one sense it may be termed natural, because it is found in all men; yet, properly speak to do with his scheme of virtue, from the beginning to the end. So that, to say the truth, his scheme of virtue is atheism all over. This is refinement indeed! Many have excluded God out of the world: he excludes him even out of religion! as he has an eye to s 10. But do we not mistake him? Do we take his meaning right? That it may be plain enough, that no man may mistake him, he proposes this question: "What if a man, in doing a virtuous, that is, a generous action, in helping a fellow creature, has an eye to God, either as commanding, or as promising to reward it? Then, (says he,) so far God, the virtue of the action is lost. Whatever actions spring from an eye to the recompense of reward, have no virtue, no moral goodness in them." Alas! was this man called a Christian? How unjustly was he slandered with that assertion! Even Dr. Taylor, though he does not allow Christ to be God, yet does not scruple to term him, <c a person of consummate virtue." But the professor cannot allow him any virtue at all! 11. But to return. What is conscience in the Christian sense? It is that faculty of the soul, which, by the assistance of the grace of God, sees at one and the same time, 1. Our own tempers and lives; the real nature and quality of our thoughts, words, and actions: 2. The rule whereby we are to be directed: and, 3. The agreement or disagreement therewith. To express this a little more largely conscience implies, first, The faculty a man has of knowing himself; of discerning, both in general and in particular, his own tempers, thoughts, words, and actions. But this it is not possible for him to do, without the assistance of the Spirit of God. Otherwise self love, and indeed every other irregular passion, would disguise, and wholly conceal him from himself. It implies, secondly, a knowledge of the rule, whereby he is to be directed in every particular; which is no other than the written word of God. Conscience implies, thirdly, a knowledge that all his thoughts, and words, and actions, are conformable to that rule. In all these offices of conscience, the "unction of the Holy One" is indispensably needful. Without this, neither could we clearly discern our lives or tempers; nor could we judge of the rule whereby we are to walk, or of our conformity or disconformity to it. 12. This is properly the account of a good conscience; which may be in other terms expressed thus: A divine consciousness of walking in all things according to the written word of God. It seems, indeed, that there can be no conscience, which has not a regard to God. If you say, "Yes, there certainly may be a consciousness of having done right or wrong, without any reference to him.” I answer, This I cannot grant: I doubt whether the very words, right and wrong, according to the Christian system, do not imply, in the very idea of them, agreement and disagreement to the will and word of God. If so, there is no such thing as conscience in a Christian, if we leave God out of the question. 13. In order to the very existence of a good conscience, as well as to the continuance of it, the continued influence of the Spirit of God, is absolutely needful. Accordingly, the apostle John declares to the believers of all ages, "Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things:" all things that are needful to your having a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man." So he adds, Ye have no need that any one should teach you," otherwise "than as that anointing teacheth you." That anointing clearly teacheth us those three things: first, The true meaning of God's word: secondly, Our own tempers and lives; bringing all our thoughts, words, and actions, to remembrance: and, thirdly, The agreement of all, with the commandments of God. 14. Proceed we now to consider, in the second place, the several sorts of conscience. A good conscience has been spoken of already This St. Paul expresses various ways. In one place he simply terms it, a good conscience towards God;" in another, "a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man." But he speaks still more largely in the text: "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity," with a single eye, "and godly sincerity, we have had our conversation in the world." Meantime he observes, that this was done, "not by fleshly wisdom;" commonly called prudence; (this never did, nor ever can produce such an effect;)" but by the grace of God:" which alone is sufficient to work this in any child of man. 15. Nearly allied to this, (if it be not the same placed in another view, or a particular branch of it,) is a tender conscience. One of a tender conscience is exact in observing any deviation from the word of God, whether in thought, or word, or work; and immediately feels remorse and self condemnation for it. And the constant cry of his soul is, "Oh that my tender soul may fly The slightest touch of sin to feel!" 16. But sometimes this excellent quality, tenderness of conscience, is carried to an extreme. We find some who fear where no fear is; who are continually condemning themselves without cause; imagining some things to be sinful, which the Scripture no where condemns; and supposing other things to be their duty, which the Scripture no where enjoins. This is properly termed a scrupulous conscience, and is a sore evil. It is highly expedient to yield to it as little as possible; rather it is a matter of earnest prayer, that you may be delivered from this sore evil, and may recover a sound mind: to which nothing would contribute more, than the converse of a pious and judicious friend. 17. But the extreme which is opposite to this, is far more dangerous. A hardened conscience is a thousand times more dangerous than a scrupulous one: that can violate a plain command of God, without any self condemnation; either doing what he has expressly forbidden, or neglecting what he has expressly commanded; and yet without any remorse; yea, perhaps glorying in this very hardness of heart! Many instances of this deplorable stupidity we meet with at this day; and even among people that suppose themselves to have no small share of religion. A person is doing something which the Scripture clearly forbids. You ask, How do you dare to do this? and are answered with perfect unconcern, "Oh my heart does not condemn me." I reply," So much the worse. I would to God it did! You would then be in a safer state than you are now. It is a dreadful thing to be con demned by the word of God, and yet not to be condemned by your own heart!" If we can break the least of the known commands of God, without any self condemnation, it is plain that the god of this world hath hardened our hearts. If we do not soon recover from this, we shall be "past feeling," and our consciences (as St. Paul speaks) will be" seared as with a hot iron." 18. I have now only to add a few important directions. The first great point is this: Suppose we have a tender conscience, how shall we preserve it? I believe there is only one possible way of doing this, which is, to obey it. Every act of disobedience tends to blind and deaden it; to put out its eyes, that it may not see the good and the acceptable will of God; and to deaden the heart, that it may not feel self condemnation, when we act in opposition to it. And on the contrary, every act of obedience gives to the conscience a sharper and stronger sight, and a quicker feeling of whatever offends the glorious majesty of God. Therefore, if you desire to have your conscience always quick to discern, and faithful to accuse or excuse you; if you would preserve it always sensible and tender; be sure to obey it at all events: continually listen to its admonitions, and steadily follow them. Whatever it directs you to do, according to the word of God, do; however grievous to flesh and blood. Whatever it forbids, if the prohibition be grounded on the word of God, see you do it not; however pleasing it may be to flesh and blood. The one or the other may frequently be the case. What God forbids may be pleasing to our evil nature. There you are called to deny yourself, or you deny your Master. What he enjoins may be painful to nature: there take up your cross. So true is our Lord's word: "Except a man deny himself, and take up his cross daily, he cannot be my disciple." 19. I cannot conclude this discourse better, than with an extract from Dr. Annesley's sermon on "Universal Conscientiousness."* "Be persuaded to practice the following directions, and your conscience will continue right: 1. Take heed of every sin: count no sin small; and obey every command with your might. Watch against the first risings of sin, and beware of the borders of sin. Shun the very appearance of evil. Venture not upon temptations or occasions of sin. 2. "Consider yourself as living under God's eye: live as in the sensible presence of the jealous God. Remember, all things are naked and open before him! You cannot deceive him; for he is infinite wisdom: you cannot fly from him; for he is every where you cannot bribe him; for he is righteousness itself! Speak as knowing God hears you walk, as knowing God Lesets you on every side. The Lord is with you, while you are with him: that is, you shall enjoy his favourable presence, while live in his awful presence. you 3. "Be serious and frequent in the examination of your heart and life. There are some duties like those parts of the body, the want of which may be supplied by other parts; but the want of these nothing can supply. Every evening review your carriage through the day; what you have done or thought, that was unbecoming your character whether your heart has been instant upon religion, and indif ferent to the world? Have a special care of two portions of time; namely, morning and evening: the morning to forethink what you have to do; and the evening, to examine, whether you have done what you ought? Dr. Annesley (my mother's father) was rector of the parish of Cripplegate. |
