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Every man has a conscience. As without the physical senses I could never feel my connection with this material system — the green earth beneath my feet and the blue heavens that encircle me would be nothing without them; so, without this conscience, this moral sense, I could have no idea either of moral government or God. Had you no conscience, I might as well endeavour to give to one that is born blind and deaf the idea of beauty and sweet sounds, as to give to you the idea of duty and God. What is a good conscience? Three things are necessary to it.

I. IT MUST LIVE. There are two classes of dead consciences. First: Those that have never been quickened. Conscience is in the breast of all in the first stages of childhood: but it is there as a germ unquickened by the sunbeam of intelligence, it is there as the optic nerve on which no light has fallen, it is dead. Secondly: Those which have been quickened but are now dead.

II. IT MUST RULE. There are consciences with some vitality in them, but no royalty; they are enslaved. They are found sometimes in subjection to —

(1)  Animalism. They are "carnally sold under sin."

(2)  Worldliness. Worldly interests govern them.

(3)  Superstition. No conscience is good in this state.Conscience is the imperial faculty in the human soul; it is not only self-inspecting, self-judging, but should be self-ruling.

III. IT MUST RULE BY THE WILL OF GOD. If it rule — and it often does — by a worldly expediency, a conventional morality, or a corrupt religion, it is a bad conscience. It must rule by the will of God, it must have no other standard. A good conscience is essential to every man's spiritual growth, power, peace, and usefulness. Without a good conscience what is he? A moral wreck tossed on the billows of passion and circumstances.

(The Homilist.)

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KJV: Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

WEB: but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith;