Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-01


and ought not to do others.
But here are two elements in con-
science which it is necessary to dis
tinguish 1t is discriminating pow
er, a Judge of the quality of action,
but not an arbitrary judge. 1t has
grounds for its decisions; and in this
respect it is itself capable of improve
meht, of receiving light. 1t must judge
and does judge always according to
the evidence laid before it. Knowl-
edge-right knowledge, truth, there
fore, is that which it needs. "The
light Of the body is the eye; if there
fore thine eye be single thy whole
body shall be full of light. But if
thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall
be full of darkness"
As the natural eye, when clear and
perfect, presents to the mind correct
and well defined images of natural OBJ
jects, so the conscience, unclouded
and pure, spreads its light through
out the soul. And as the natural eye,
when weakened or diseased, dims and
distorts the objects without, so the
conscience, the eye and light of the
soul, when perverted and darkened,
enshrouds in deepest gloom the whole
moral being. The full activity of con-
science Is necessary to moral pertec-
tion. And just here the word Of God
shows its power in its adaptation to
enlighten. quicken, and intensity the
conscience. The system of truth in
the Bible is not only in harmony with
the present state of human conscience,
/. e., is just on level with and meets
the average demands Of human con-
science, laboring as it does under a
load of guilt and perversion, and Oil
ly here and there shooting out in the
darkness CLEAN of its normal energy.
But it is adapted to communicate
light, to act upon the conscience and
give it tension, to reach down and
lift it up and bring it to perfection, tc
render it both more tenderl V sensi
tive and more kecnly discriminating
The Bible is adapted to this end in
asmuch, and 50 far as it is adapted tc
enlighten and quicken the intellect
for the conscience has a certain de
pendence on intellectual light and ac
tivity. When the perceptive powers
are quick, and fresh, aud accurate
and stcady-when they are free from
incumbrance and perversion, receiv
ine the truth and reaching after it
the conscience also has prOportionably
clear evidence upon which to pro
nounce its judgment. 1t speaks fortl
distinctly and decisively, and its au
thority is quickly recognized. Bu
when the mind is narrow, and slug
glSh, ana dUInaut, aud tcJJcIcd uy
ignorance, the conscience also labor.
under disability. 1t is clouded; it;
field Of evidence is narrowed, and it:
judgments are darkened. But The
Bible is adapted to DO more than thi,
towards quickening the conscience
inasmuch as it presents q perfect stan
dard Of moral action. 1t stands abov,
the present plane Of conscience enfee
bled and defective in the range of it
requirement, and tends to lift up th,
moral faculty from its disabled ant
imperfect state, 1t is the perfection
of right embodied. 1t shows wha
the conscience ought to be, and in thi
very ought is the highest stimulus
possible. The morality of the Bib,
is minute and perfect. 1t compre
hends and perfectly adjusts all the re
lations Of man to God and his fellow
man, 80 that 40 line of duty conflict
with another, and none is omitted
All the obscure voices which natur
utters are gathered up, and all the in
distinct lines which she has write
are traced out, and carried forward
and emphasized, by new principle
and facts not otherwiseto be discov
cred. Here is an infalfible rule o.
life, moral precepts in which there
no defect to roo them of power
There is no lowering ofrequirements
no bending to human weakness, pre-
udice, and passion; no Jesuitical e1
ceptions or reservations but the bar
right or wrong, and hence the meri
or demerit of human action. 1t
God himself speaking from his owl
tribunal, promulgating and interpret
ing his own laws. With what fore
and conviction, then, is the address O
the Bible to man, coming with its etel
nal ought in all matters of human &C
ton, forcing the conscience to recoe
nize it, and thereby enlarging an,
| quickening its judgments! 1t brace
up and gives tone to a weakened an,
perverted power. And all this i
made more emphatic by the aegfM sane
tons aUith aohich the Bible entorces IL
laao. "The soul that sinneth it shal
die" Conscience fixing upon tn
bare desert of human sin is Statistic,
only in the infiction of appropriat
penalty. That penalty the Bible pro
nounces in terms of awful solemnit
which thrill the soul.
The character of God as disclosed
his infinite holiness, perfect justice
and almighty power, the character Of
his law, and the terrible majesty wit
which he sometimes goes forth in hi
providence to vindicate that law, ant
visit vengeance upon the wicked tn
ideas of constant scrutiny by an omni
scient eye, and of inevitable futur
Judgment, kept constantly in view
the assurance given that there is t.
come an impartial tribunal, and