Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-11-25
JOY OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE

soul of every man that worketh evil
Romans, ii.
4 good conscience that is at peace
with God surpasseth every JOY. 1t
comes TO 4 man when he has Loyalty
and faithfully kept the whole law ID
his heart and has stoutly resisted even
unto blood the allurements OF evil
There are many incentives in thls
life of ours impelling one to wahuer
away from the paths Of rechtuae. II
Is far easier to indulge ones sen alino
the soft cushions of q pleasure loving
nfe than to struggle with soldier
sni,it to abide by the discipline OF the
law. 1t is much more agreeaole 20
float with the tide of easy going frlehd- |
shins 70 weld to every inordinate de-
sire Of physical and social vo.dptuous-
ness. than ii is to stem the currents Oy
stern resolve and harsh sell@enlai'
One way, however, leads TO moral
destruction; the other leads to the pas
lures of a peaceful conscience, where
prosperity and plenty abound. John
the Baptist in his prison is happy;
Herod on his throne is miserable 10"
good it is TO serve God! what pleas
IRE and tranquility there are III loving
him! He is benign and merciIul 10
those whose hearts ere right DeIore
him. He is terrible TO those who Of
fend and deny him. 4 good conscience
Is calm and at rest; a bad conscience Is
turbulent and agitated, Peace ana re-
nose reign in soul which belongs to
God: trouble and inquietude distract
the soul of the wicked.
An hour ago l said mass at thu
house Of Calvary, and about me were
a score Of sufferers. I could hear above
the lispngs of prayer the suppressed
moans of pain. The cole finger OF
dea h had Touched the physical frame
of each, but the warm fire OF daVihe
love glowed in their hearts of devotion
The excruclating agony of physical
Dain wrenched from them an involun-
tary groan, but the pleasure and peace
of Z good conscience wreathed their
wan faces into lines Of joy. The GER
tainty of impending death and the sew
ering of all ties that bound them to
home and lifelong friendships were lit
tie less than daily martyrdom. but
over it all was the glow of a wester-
ing sun, that touched the landscape Of
their lives with infinite beauty and
brought their hearts into sympathy
with the joys of life beyond the
grave.
The conscience Of the just man is
type Of heaven because he is at peace
with God and God dwells in his heart;
that of a sinner is a type Of hell be-
cause it can find no rest and is gov
erned by the spirit of evil. Good men
fear nothing; the wicked fear every
thing. The just are good in themselves
because their lives are governed by the
Inspirations OF Cod the secret motives
ard the hidden life of the sinner are
corrupt and constantly at war with
God The just enter readily into them
selves because all theGeln Is peace and
consolation; the wicked dare not enter
into themselves, because, like the
seething of the witches caldron, their
hearts are turbulent mass of vicious
desires and unrestrained baseness.
"Know thou and see that it is a fear
full and bitter thing for thee to have
left the Lord thy God" What hast
thou to do in the land of Egypt but TO
drink the troubled waters?" The just
life we'll amid the pains and anguish of
life and die with joy; the wicked lived
amid pleasures and enjoyments and
die in bitter pain and anguish.
A life in conformity with the com
mandments of God is, even from
temporal point of view. the more de
sirable- 1t writes its history in the
beamlng face; it shows itself in the
sprightly step of those who are glad
of heart; 1t touches with dash of
sunshine the thoughts. and it lights up
with heavenly glow the desires of
a soul that experiences the friendship
of God. "A good conscience is col
tinual feast' prov. XVI.
The joy of good conscience being
80 precious, it is to be sought at any
cost, it must be secured at all haZ-
ards The first step is through repent
anee. But thou hast mercy upon ali
because thou canst do all things, and
oyerlookest the sins of men for the
sake of repentance" (Wisdom XII. The
baptism of water washes away from
the souls Of children the stain of orig
fnal sin; the baptism of blood washes
away every stain from the souls of the
martyrs; the baptism of the heart
cleanses the souls of all penitents. 1t
is impossible for any one to be saved
unless he does penance, and the meas
IRE of repentance must be according TO
che extent of the guilt. And now,
therefore, saith the Lord, be convert
ed to ME with all your heart in fasting,
and in weeping. and in mourning; and
read your hearts and not your gar
ments, and turn to the Lord your God
for he is gracious and merciful. pa
tient, and rich in merry, and ready to
forgive" Joel liz.
But while repentance is the key that
opens the door to the joys of a good
conscience, a settled purpose to keep
the commandments is the means to
maintain enc in their possession. When
Jesus Christ entt s into a mans heart
to become its master he brings with
him a foreta ste Of the pleasures of par
adise Il have found him whom my
soul loveth and win lot let him go.
The essence Of a good conscience is TO