The strokes of the "Sword of the Spirit" alight only on the conscience, and its edge is anointed with a bairn to heal every wound it may inflict.--_Dr. J. Harris_.
Every vain thought and idle word, and every wicked deed, is like so many drops to quench the Spirit of God. Some quench Him with the lust of the flesh; some quench Him with cares of the mind; some quench Him with long delays, that is, not plying the motion when it cometh, but crossing the good thoughts with bad thoughts, and doing a thing when the Spirit saith not. The Spirit is often grieved before He be quenched.--_H. Smith_.
In times when vile men held the high places of the land, a roll of drums was employed to drown the martyr's voice, lest the testimony of truth from the scaffold should reach the ears of the people,--an illustration of how men deal with their own consciences, and seek to put to silence the truth-telling voice of the Holy Spirit.--_Arnot_.