8. To the Ephesians, Paul says: "After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Eph. i. 13, 14.

In accordance with these views, Leighton says, "That conscience alone is good which is much busied in self-examination, which speaks much with itself, and much with God. This is both the sign that it is good, and the means to make it better. That soul will doubtless be very wary in its walk, which takes daily account of itself, and renders up that account unto God. It will not live by guess, but naturally examine each step beforehand, because it is resolved to examine all after; will consider well what it should do, because it means to ask over again what it hath done, and not only to answer itself, but to make a faithful report of all unto God; to lay all before him continually, upon trial made; to tell him what is in any measure well done, as his own work, and bless him for that; and tell him, too, all the slips and miscarriages of the day, as our own; complaining of ourselves in his presence, and still entreating free pardon, and more wisdom to walk more holily and exactly, and gaining, even by our failings, more humility and more watchfulness. If you would have your consciences answer well, they must inquire and question much beforehand. Whether is this I Whether is this I purpose and go

about, agreeable to my Lord's will? Will it please him? Ask that more, and regard that more, than this, which the most follow. Will it please or profit myself? Fits that my own humour? And examine not only the bulk and substance of thy ways and

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actions, but the manner of them, how thy heart is set. So, think it not enough to go to church, or to pray, but take heed how ye hear; for, consider how pure He is, and how piercing his eye, whom thou servest.

He who is thus has a good conscience, and in it a source of unfailing gladness. "This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." This kind of a merry heart doeth good like a medicine. It is a continual feast. He who has it has so far terminated the fearful war within his own heart, that he has crucified his evil passions, has enthroned his conscience in his own bosom, and breathes benevolence towards men, and piety towards God. He rejoices in the mighty work of grace begun in him. He no longer shudders at a sight of himself. His designs are approved by the vicegerent of God in his soul. Harmony reigns in his bosom. He esteems God his Father. He no longer trembles at the thought of meeting his Maker. "Quid in vita esset expers metus? Bias respondit, Bona conscientia. Et Socrates, quærenti quinam sine perturbatione viverent, regessit, Qui nullius peccati sibi conscii sunt. "The righteous are as bold as a lion." There is no shield to repel sharp arrows like that of a good conscience.

Hic murus aheneus esto, nil conscire sibi. Hor.

Such a good conscience will be a passport and a stay in the severest trials. It will disarm death of its sting. It will give boldness in the day of judgment. All the wealth, honours and pleasures of earth are not to be compared to it. A man may be full of them, and yet

full of misery. The more he has of them, the less of a man may he be. But with a good conscience a man is a man, yea, he is a great man under all the accumulated ills of life. Nothing can infect him with puerility or pusillanimity.

But how different it is with the wicked. They "flee when no man pursueth." "They come out against the righteous one way, and flee before them seven ways." "The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days. . . . A dreadful sound is in his He believeth not that he shall return out

ears.

of darkness."

“Degeneres animos timor arguiť”—VIRGIL.

So dreadful are the torments of an evil conscience that in many periods of human history, men, who knew not the evil of sin, have held that it was adequately punished in this life. The fears of the wicked, especially at times when it is peculiarly desirable to be unshaken, are oftentimes overwhelming.

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"Conscience makes cowards of us all."

A heathen left this petition inscribed on a pillar in the temple of his god: "Save me from my enemies.' One coming after him wrote: "Save me from my friends." It seems to have occurred to no one to write "Save me from myself." Yet unless a man heartily offers such a prayer, and is rescued from his passions, his prejudices, his sinful desires, and the lashings of his guilty conscience, he is eternally undone. "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." This is true in time. It is more fearfully true in eternity.

DIRECTIONS FOR KEEPING A GOOD CONSCIENCE.

1. Put a high value upon such a blessing. Never be satisfied without it. It is worth more than all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them.

2. Labour diligently to secure it. It comes not to the careless and indolent. Paul says: "Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.'

3. Especially maintain in your heart a strong and constant sense of the goodness, authority, majesty, and holiness of God. "Be thou in the fear of the

LORD all the day long."

"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death." "They, that fear God least, have reason to fear him most."

4. Meditate on God's law day and night. Study both tables with care and diligence. Let it dwell in you richly.

5. Set the Lord always before you. If you can honour and please him, that is enough.

6. As far as possible avoid confusion of mind respecting duty. Gurnall: "There are three kinds of straits, wherein Satan loves to entrap the believer; nice questions, obscure Scriptures and dark providences."

7. Beware of all tortuous ways of proceeding. When you find your course demanding cunning, be alarmed. Be honest and frank with yourself, with your neighbour, and with God.

8. Beware of the least sins. foxes that spoil the tender grapes. of evil,

They are the little
Avoid every form

9. Guard with all possible care against secret sins. You have no worse enemies.

10. Watch against the sins of the times. If there is great heat in the public temper, be doubly careful to keep cool. If all around you are eager or violent, let your moderation appear.

11. Ever watch against easily besetting sins, those to which your constitution, education, habits, or calling incline you. You cannot be too guarded against old sins.

12. Never venture on any course of doubtful propriety. "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

13. In all cases of doubt, decide against self-will, self-interest, and self-indulgence, against your passions, prejudices, and even preferences.

14. If overtaken in a fault, do not deny it, or excuse it before God or man, but ingenuously confess and forsake it. So shall you find mercy.

15. Fervently pray to God to keep you. Beg him not to take his Holy Spirit from you, and not to leave you to yourself. That was a good prayer of David: "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe."

16. If you strongly suspect that you are wrong, you probably are wrong; and if conscience is against you, you may know that God is also against you. "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

case.

17. Be not afraid of knowing the worst of your Your discovery of your own vanity, imperfection and nothingness, so far from being a bad sign, will be a token for good, if it leads you to trust wholly in Christ.