IF Two anecdotes may be given of the way in which the word " conscience " is understood by children. A Sunday - school teacher asked the question of her class, "What is that within you which makes you uneasy when you have done wrong?"
ISAIAH 37
After some hesitation, a small boy with a healthy appetite answered, in a very Scotch accent, "Ma stomach."
IT The other anecdote is from James Vaughan, of Brighton. A gentleman was examining a class in a Sunday school and he said to the children, " What is conscience ? " They were all much puzzled. One of the big boys said, " It is too big a word for me." The gentleman then said, "Did you ever feel anything inside you which seemed to say, 'You ought not to have done this or that,' or, 'Go and do that; go and pray'?" "Oh yes, sir," they all said, " we all have heard that." Then the gentleman said again, " What is conscience ? " And little Benny said, " It is Jesus whispering in the heart." That was a little boy's answer. It was very beautiful. There are many of these "whispers of Jesus to the heart."
2. But again, the soul is instructed by the Providence of God.
The Bible, from beginning to end, is ever exhibiting this olessed truth. The beautiful stories of the earlier patriarchs, the incidental episodes (such as the sweet picture of dutiful devotion in the Book of Euth), the proclamation of the prophets, the tender verses of the Psalms, as well as the history of the Chosen People, conspire to witness to the consoling fact that " the Lord careth for His people." And what is the general lesson learnt? Conscience says, "Sin," "a Judge." Providence says, " Care, and watchful love," " a Father " ; both teach us that God neither does nor permits anything, except to certain ends before Him conformable to His nature of righteousness. The solemn thought is this, that men may, by deliberate, continued sin, frustrate the loving purpose in themselves ; but " God is not mocked," they shall not frustrate the righteous end.
3. And lastly, God instructs the soul of the creature by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Conscience speaks of sin and judgment; Providence of watchful, regulated care. What does Jesus Christ teach ? (1) In His example, as exhibited in the Gospel, He shows us a righteousness so transcendent that it corroborates the teachings of conscience, a course of action of such unvarying tenderness that it illustrates and manifests the providence of God ; (2) He gives the most vivid, the most appalling revelation of the mystery and magnitude of human sin ; but with it — what conscience could never do — of the most loving, most complete
38 THE GREAT TEXTS OF THE BIBLE
forgiveness to the penitent, and the brightest hope (after sorrow) as to human destiny, in the tragedy — the love-marked tragedy — of the Passion ; (3) and beyond that He displays to us a prospect and a power of attainment to the heights of spiritual longing, by revealing the method and confirming the promise of the implanting of His own life, of His own image, ever more and more fully in the soul of His creature, which is the daily, hourly work of God's blessed Spirit in those who diligently seek Him.
Gracious Spirit, dwell with me ;
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
"Would Thy life in mine reveal,
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.
Truthful Spirit, dwell with me ; I myself would truthful be. And with wisdom kind and clear Let Thy life in mine appear. And with actions brotherly Speak my Lord's sincerity.
Silent Spirit, dwell with me ;
I myself would quiet be.
Quiet as the growing blade
Which through earth its way has made,
Silently, like morning light,
Putting mists and chills to flight.
Mighty Spirit, dwell with me ; I myself would mighty be. Mighty so as to prevail Where unaided man must fail, Ever by a mighty hope Pressing on and bearing up.
Holy Spirit, dwell with me ;
I myself would holy be ;
Separate from sin, T would
Choose and cherish all things good,
And whatever I can be,
Give to Him, who gave to Thee.^
* Thomaa Toke Lynch.
ISAIAH 39
II.
THE REASONING AND ITS RESULT, i. The Subject of the Reasoning.
In the immediate case before us, the case of God's ancient people of Israel, the subject of argument was their conduct, especially the ingratitude of it in the light of all that God had done for them. But the subject is broader than that. In this very chapter, there is a threefold basis of reasoning, which is of universal application.
1. First of all, God reasons with man on the basis of man's whole life. There is a constant attempt on man's part — a device that is repeated from generation to generation and from age to age — to withdraw the greater portion of man's life from God's reasoning, or, in other words, to endeavour to reason with God on the basis of some lesser and limited portion of life. You can see it very clearly throughout this chapter. God said to man, " Come, let us reason together." " Very well," says man, " let this be the ground of our reasoning. Look at my life as it lies within the circle of its religious action and exercises, the sacrifices I bring to you, the incense I offer, the fasts I make. Let us reason on that basis ; let us take our stand there." And as you will see in this chapter, God utterly rejects reasoning like this, and says, " No, no ; I must deal with you on the basis of your whole life, not on any limited or selected part of it which you choose to present and urge." Now there is great significance in this connection in the opening words of this chapter. God cries out and says, " Hear, O heavens, and give ear, 0 earth " ; man is saying, " Let me be judged and reasoned with on the basis of my life, as that life lies within certain narrow limits, on the basis of my life regarded specially in its rel^ious aspects. Look at me when I am present in the Temple, when I bring my gifts to the altar ; deal with me on that ground, let that be the basis of reasoning." God cries out to earth and heaven, and says, " These are the only limits of man's life I can recognise — the earth on which he walks, on the surface of which everything is done, the heavens over his head, which look down upon every transaction of his life ; that is the basis of My reasoning, and that alone."