the pre-eminent authority with which it is invested, and the influence which it exercises over our whole man. We ought, then,
1. To get it well informed —
[We have before observed, that conscience prescribes no rule to us, but only gives its testimony according to a rule which has previously existed in the mind. Nor does any man ever commit sin by following its dictates. St. Paul, when he persecuted the saints, supposed that in so doing he was dis- charging a duty to God ; for " he thought that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus." Doubtless in this he sinned : but his sin consisted, not in following the dictates of his own conscience, but in having his conscience so ill-informed. Had he studied the Scriptures with more humi- lity of mind, and sought instruction from God, he would have been kept from the fatal errors into which he fell. Indeed, he himself assigns as an extenuation of his guilt, that he had con- tracted it " ignorantly, and in unbelief11 :" for had he known what evil he was committing, and yet persisted in it, there was reason to fear he would never have obtained mercy at the Lord's hands. If we would have conscience perform its office aright, we must take the law of God for the standard whereby it shall judge. We must not go to men to instruct us in the principles of the world, which are altogether founded in error; but must look to God, to "guide us into all truth," according to his unerring word, and through the influences of his good Spirit. Nor must we hastily imagine that our views are correct : for there is a film upon our eyes, and we are far from seeing things so distinctly as we ought. We should maintain a godly jealousy over ourselves, lest " Satan beguile us," or our own heart deceive us. We should take care that " the light which is in us be not darkness :" for if it be, how great must that darkness be ! But, " if our eye be single, then will our whole body be full of light'," and the testimony of conscience be in perfect accordance with the mind of God.]
2. To consult it on all occasions —
[We should not go on blindfold, but should endeavour to see our way clear before we enter upon any course of action. To act first, and afterwards make inquiries, is almost a certain way to involve ourselves in guiltk. To make conscience a pretext for doing a thing to which we are pre- viously inclined, is indeed a horrible delusion ; and not less common than it is hateful. But, on the other hand, to do any thing without a careful inquiry into the quality of the action
h 1 Tim. i. 13. ■ Matt. vi. 22, 23. k Prov. xx. 25.