The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-20

ting were necessary 10 make that iron
most valuable?
Let US believe that the Divine
Master Workman has q loving purpose
IN view when in the fiery furnace of his
p~rovidences hesubiects us to sorrow and
heartache. He wants to develop us to
higher perfection OF character, to make
ne "~partakers of his holiness" (See 2
Pet. | A; Cor. 3;ls; Eph. 4:24; / Jno.
3:2)
Finally we may conclude that what the
world calls misfortunes are really tokens
OF Gods favor, distinguishing marks of
His affection for as. He works all
things together for good to those who
love him; yes and to those who hate him
also.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Conscience. Text: Mat. AL, 2. AT
thistlme Herod the tetrarch heard of the
fame of Jesus and said unto his SER
wants, this is John the Baptist; he is
risen from the dead"
Conscience has been called the most
solemn word in the language. It is not
. faculty, yet has to do with all the
faculties. 1t has been v~ariously defined
az sIhe eye of the soul" aGod in man.
The epitome Of hell" etc, ETC.. 1t is,
doubtless, the invisible representative OF
the Infinite one 1t 10 more than sell
condemnation. When we would con.
done onr wrong doing, it pronounces US
guilty. 1t speaks no less surely though
less audibly than the voice OF God to
the patriarchs. Massive walls, armed
bataiii0ns, thick armor, public adula-
tions, nor private hermitage can shut
ns out from its lnsistent accusations. 1t
masters the guilty and approves the
innocent.
l. Two PICTURES were drawn, one OF
innocent Peter, expecting execution on
the morrow, sleeping serenely in his cell
another CT Herod, guilty, uneasy, on his
r~oyaicouch, unable to sleep rising and
whispering the text in the ears of his
servants.
2 1t is observed that the operations
OF conscience are both constant and uni
versal. Not dependent on station or
education, "rhey that have not the law
bring . law unto themselves, their con-
science accusing or excusing." She
posts her accounts steadily, and occa
s~ionally opens her books for our inspec-
ton aud condemnation. Probably each
OF us could say with Dryden, .Here it
lies, q lump OF lead and in my short dis.
tracted slumosrs the bag that haunts
my dreams"
B. The uniformity and constapcy of
operations suggests in the next place
tina: what is SO superior that time cam
not destroy it, will continue when time
shall be no more.
Herod slept many nights after Johns
murder. Bnt conscience kept her rec
ords and in her own time exposed them
to hissFiew with reproachful, remorseful
condemnation.
U~nbelievers object % miracles on the
ground that law ID Interchangeable. Well
how about the changeless and uniform
laws of the soul and Of conscience.
Will death set aside only the laws for
punishi.g guilt? Shall the bad mans
dying and eternity be so different from
his living? II SO what advantage in
being good, and doing right? Shall
opening eternity's doors hush the con-
demnatory voices forever? Here, wrong
doors are condemned, right doors
approved. The closer we draw to etern.
ity themore JOY or anguish fills the soul
On dying beds conscience is quickened
Without opiates or physical weakness
every dying bed 10 either glorious, OF
horrible. Entertainments about the soul
are torn down, conscience takes the helm
and steers the soul into the presence oil
its Judge framing His displeasure, to en-.
dure which forever is worse than q
thousand deaths.
Is there no escape from this Nemesis?
Yes! Thanks be to God! There 49,: in
the atoning death and love OF God IN
Jesus Christ.