HYMN. Through the busy week-day hours Take His easy yoke upon you, And with willing feet, Labour for Him night and morning, So shall rest be sweet. He is watching those who serve Him Thus on earth below, And upon each faithful servant Will a crown bestow. Monday. CONSCIENCE. TEXT: ROM. II. 15. 'Their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.' PERHAPS, as you read this text the thought strikes you, 'What is conscience?' Let us try and think. When at any time you have been tempted to do what was wrong, did you never hear as it were an inward voice saying to you, 'Do not do this thing, for it is sinful; do not say these words, for they are wicked; do not think these thoughts, for they are hurtful; do not go to this place, for it is a dangerous place for you to go to?' Or, again, when you were in doubt as to whether you should, or should not, do something that was right, did you never hear the same voice telling you that it was your duty, and bidding you to do it? Well, that inward voice which we all hear at times, was the voice of your conscience. It told you when you were doing right, and when you were doing wrong. We need in truth to thank God for this help to us in our Christian life, for it is the Holy Spirit which speaks to us through our conscience, and leads us, if we will obey Him, in the right way. If you listen to this voice within you, if you obey it at all times, it will speak to you more and more plainly and clearly-warning you from evil, teaching you to do what is right. If you refuse to listen to it and drown its voice, it will speak less and less often to you, till at last it will be almost silent, and you will fall into sin without even knowing of your danger. God's Holy Spirit will not always strive with you, and it may be, if you thus quench His Holy Spirit, God will say of you as once He said of Pharaoh, 'Let him alone.' For those whom God forsakes, all hope is lost. Pray then that He will keep you from such a terrible end; pray that He will guide you by His Spirit through the voice of conscience, and that you may have grace not only to know, but to do His will. PRAYER. Grant, O Lord, that Thy holy law may be written in my heart, and that my conscience may ever bear me witness, accusing or else excusing my thoughts, words, and deeds. Grant that I may ever listen to its voice and obey it; that I may not only be a hearer, but a doer of Thy law. May I watch against the first beginnings of sin, and pray for grace to resist it. May I never refuse to follow Thy blessed guidance, or do despite unto the Spirit of grace, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. HYMN. Listen, for an inward voice is speaking, Satan tempts you, but, O Christian soldier, Fight against your enemy the Devil, For it warns you in temptation's hour, Listen to the voice of conscience speaking, Lest you quench the Holy Spirit, pleading With your soul to-day. |