Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-07-12
THE Law OF coNsc1ENcE.

THE Law OF CONSCIENCE.
We all rome into the world with an
instructive moral sense which is c,lled
conscience. \, frs, undo veloped, i, =
tell bnt little distinctly. The child soon
perceives the broad distinctions between
right aud wrong, but the exact bounda-
ries-how far certain actions should be
carried aud where li,oited-are studies
for II lifetime. A different standard
exists among different nations aud n
difrereu, ages OF the world, and even
amoug those Of the same time and coun-
try. There are two kinds Of right and
wrong, just rs there are N kinds OF
truth and error, absolute and relative.
Absolute right is known only to God,
and 10 His sight must he an~alterable.
But human right aud wrong, that is,
the merit or demerit OF human actions,
cannot be measured by that absolute
standard, but must be considered rela.
lively to the circumstances and knoul'
edge Of each individual. Every attain
ment in moral and spiritual life is an
advance towards the absolute Standard,
but the law Of conscience can only
extend to the height tbs moral sense
may have already attained. There are
some things universally recognized by
every conscience that is not absolutely
perverted. Charity and s~elf-dsninl, for
example, will be found in some form to
underlie the religions Of all ages and
countries; but the forms and gradations
in which they appear are couu,less. In
ancient Sparta children were taught to
steal, but it was not the dishonesty that
was admired, but the dexterity OF con-
cealment, a species Of self.denial. that
was placed higher in the scale OF merit
than honesty.
Although that which Il 4 honestly
believes to be right is in fact right for
him, and tha, which lie really believes
wrong is wrong for him, this very truth
carries with it the obligation TO earnest
" strive after the nearest approach TO
absolute right of which human nature,
under present, circumstances, is capa-
BILE. For none can be fully persuaded
that q course of action is right for them,
unless they have used their best efforts
to discover the right, and these efforts
imply one of the chief duties Of life, the
education Of the conscience. In this
path, aud in strict obedience to what is
revealed, so far as it csn be ascertainsd,
is found all the moral progress of the
world. One of the best ways to dis
cover absolute right is to follow closely
that which a, present seems right
| While we are responsible for our opin'
ions, and the way in which We arrive a,
them, we can never without guilt dis
obey conscience. Nothing so much scar:
and hardens conscience, AS disrsgardinG
its dictates. Thus woe will ever follow
those who allow power or fashion, OIL
the opinions Of others, or anything else
human, to interfere with personal re-
sponsibility, or to render them unfaith'
ful 10 their own convictions.
If this truth is fully recognized, it will
70 far towards increasing our charity
for others. II conscience i, held sacred,
we will respect the slightest scruple o
| Others, aud shrink rs we'll from iniu'
encing them to do what they think
wrong. as what ace believe to be so. II
is the setting up of ono conscience &c
leyislste for others, that has brought
into the world all the miseries Of re-
ligious persecution. Unfinching ODE.
dienee 10 the laws Of four own conscience
ought to teach u u proportionate ten
derness for the cousciences OF others
and above all things that can be desired
for ourselves and others, is the sduea
ton of, and perfect obedience to. tina
concience that has been given u, fol
our counsel and guidance.