Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-05-11
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necessity of revelation. When a man
is acting as impelled by the authority
of God he should know what God wills
Hence the human conscience must be
enlightened by the word of God.
There are many imperfect and de
fective consciences from which the
grossest errors and wrongs result.
There is, at first, a false conscience
one that has been mistakenly educated
that sees harm in things innocent. that
confounds abstinence with temperance,
that forbids what God has meant to
be enjoyed, that mistakes austerity for
piety
This makes conscience play the role
Of a barsh, severe and blgoted censor.
altogether foreign to its true intent.
There are few things worse than a
false conscience.
Again, there is legalistic con-
science. This takes hold upon eXter-
nails. If the outward life be correct.
If the reputation be kept moral, If Wis
ible conduct be blameless, If duties be
regularly discharged, it is self-satlsfied.
But 1t overlooks the fact that the real
seat of conscience is in the inner life.
The most faultless legallsm Is utterly
shallow and vain until it springs from
the heart. The works OF such formal
lists are but done to be seen of men and
have their reward
There is the double conscience-one
for the private and another for the
public life. Some men feel in honor
bound to do uprightly by their families
and friends. They are patterns of
moral correctness in their personal re-
lations. But as members of some cor
poration or trust they freely, and ap-
parently without blush commit acts
and sanction practices which are no
less than robbery. Even members in
good standing in Christian churches
have thus besmirched the church's fair
name by fiagrant dishonesty.
And then, again, there is the one
sided conscience. Paul's conscience in
the text had the two necessary sides.
Herein do | exercise myself, to have
always a conscience void of offense
toward God and toward men,"
The conscientiousness of many only
embraces men, but quite Ignores God.
their Maker. They have morality, but
lack religion; and thus they disregard
the supreme obligation of the ethical
sense. God not only will not be lg-
nored but He wants the first concern.
Wrote Ruskin truly:
"God will put up with many things
in the heart of man, but one thing He
will not put up with-the second place.
He who gives God second place, gives
him no place"
No more important theme could he
suggested for our time than this. We
are in danger of incurring that most
terrible of indictments conscience
less age. Thinking, upright minds are
shocked at the revelations showing
utter lack of conscience in wide ranges
vi plVSchl uuS lllt. we hetl, lltll.
a revival of the conscience. We need
to emphasize the imperative necessity
of needing it. The disregard of CON
science presages remorse to the indi-
vidual and disaster to society.
Conscience wounded becomes an ad-
der's tongue that will sting to the
death. Let no man hope to evade the
Nemesis that follows the ignoring Of
this divine monitor.
No tortures which the poets feign
Can match the fierce, intolerable gain
He feels who, night and day. devoid of
rest,
Carries his own accuser in his breast.
A life without conscience toward
God first and toward man because of
God is the worst Of failures. No gold
can gild, no glamour of position or
power can fill 1t with success.
But good conscience is true riches
"A patent Of genuine nobility, a
breastplate against all adversities and
light of inner peace and JOY that will
sustain us until we reach Our Fathers
house.