Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-06-12
(Origi nall
CONSCIENCE.


CONSCIENCE.
That faculty of our moral nature which en-
ables US to decide with regard to acts and
affections, whether they are right or wrong, is
called conscience. Everybody is conscious ol
the fact that some things are approved of, and
others meet with only disapprobation. Some
men, of very great learning and mental abili'
ty assert that man has, by nature, no such
faculty as conscience. They teach that this
moral sense, by which we decide that some
things are right and other things wrong, is
the result of education. This seems to be
all error. It is not within the province Of
education to create anything it only develops
Any one of the five senses is capable of being
educated. The eye of the sailor is said to
undergo a very peculiar physical change
The sense of touch is rendered very delicate
in those persons whose occupation requires its
constant use. This does not prove that an
individual in whom the occular nerve does
not exist, can be taught to see; or that one
could learn to hear, in whom there is no au.
ditory nerve. To assert that conscience is a
mere creation Of education, is similar asser.
tion to that of saying that the nerves Of hear.
ing, seeing, tasting, smelling and feeling, are
created or brought into existence by educa'
ton. No one, we think, would make this last
assertion. It is too absurd.
Taking it for granted that conscience is
one of the endowments bestowed upon all
mankind by the Author Of our being, we re-
mark that its decisions are always binding
By this we mean that we are bound to obey
the mandates of conscience Whenever con.
science tells us that such and such acts are
right, we are bound by the laws of our nature
to perform those acts and when our conscience
condemns certain acts as morally wrong, we
sin if we commit those forbidden acts. This
is not declaring that we invariably do what is
absolutely right when we obey conscience
The only means we have ofjudging Of colors
is by the eye. If our eyes declare that black
is red, and green yellow, we are bound by the
laws of our nature, to treat black as if it were
red, and green as if it we're yellow. Such
defects do not often exist in the physical
senses, but they do sometimes exist. When,
ever they do exist, the individual is, by the
very nature of things bound to be governed
by them and act in accordance with their
perceptions, be these right or wrong. The
moral sense of all men, universally, is in a
ruined state. Disease often greatly Injuries
the nerve of sight, or of hearing, or some other
one, or of all the senses. In the same way
sin, which is a moral disease, has injured the
moral sense Conscientious scruples are al.
ways to be respected but they are not neces'
sarily absolutely right. Since the fall, the
only rule by which we can test an act, thought
or feeling, whether it be right or wrong, is the
Bible. Take away from us the word Of God,
and we will still feel that some things are
right and that other things are wrong; but
what we call and feel to be right, may be ab-
solutely wrong; and what we call and feel
to be wrong, may be a duty which we are
bound to perform. We should never forget
that since the fall, the Bible, and not con-
science, is the rule by which we are to judge
of the morality Of an act. When the mind is
enlightened, the decisions Of conscience are
never at variance with the decisions of the
Bible; but in our natural condition there
rarely is any agreement between the Bible
and conscience. The Bible, and not con.
science, is light to our feet, and lamp to
our path.
He IS ABLE.-God is able of these stones
to raise up seed to Abraham.
Able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him.
What he has promised he is able to per-
form.
Able to make all graces abound toward
you, that you, having all suficiency in al
things, may abound to every good work.
commend you to God, and to the word
of his grace, who is able to build you up and
to give you an inheritance among all them
that are sanctifed.
Able to keep that which I have committed
unto him.
Able to keep you from falling, and present
you faultless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy.
Able to succer them that are tempted.
Able to keep all whom the Father hath
given him, so that he will not lose one.
Able to do exceeding abundantly above al
that we ask or think.
Believe ye that he is able to do this.
ass- The names of God correspond with hi