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I. WHAT IS CONSCIENCE?

1. The name. It is called —

(1)  Heart (1 Samuel 24:5; Ecclesiastes 7:22; 1 John 3:21).

(2)  Spirit (Proverbs 18:14; 1 Corinthians 2:11).

(3)  Conscience (Titus 1:15), which implies —

(a)  The knowledge that several have of the same thing, so God knows with us (Job 16:20).

(b)  The knowledge we have of several things (1 Samuel 24:5; 1 Corinthians 4:4).

2. The thing conscience is a habit of the practical understanding, whereby the mind of man applies the knowledge it hath to its own particular actions, by discourse of reason.

II. ITS OFFICES.

1. To apply general truths to ourselves (2 Samuel 12:7; Jeremiah 8:6).

2. To bear witness (Romans 2:15) of —

(1)  God's law.

(2)  Our actions.

3. To comfort us in our obedience (Isaiah 38:3).

4. To accuse us of sin (Romans 2:15; Revelation 20:12).

5. To judge (Psalm 4:4) —

(1)  Our actions (Romans 14:22, 23, Lamentations 3:40).

(2)  Our persons (1 Corinthians 11:31).

III. THE CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENCE.

1. Conscience is God's vicegerent in the soul.

2. Rightly enlightened it dictates nothing but God's commands.

3. All God's commands concern Himself or our neighbour (Matthew 22:37, 38).

4. When we do what it commands our conscience excuses and comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:12).

5. It accuses for nothing but sin.

6. Therefore when we do nothing offensive to God or man our conscience is void of offence (Acts 23:1).

IV. HOW WE MUST CARRY OURSELVES TOWARDS GOD AND MAN SO AS TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENCE.

1. To God.

(1)  Love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5).

(2)  Desire Him above all creatures (Philippians 3:8).

(3)  Seek Him before all treasures (Matthew 6:33).

(4)  Believe Him in all His assertions.

(5)  Fear Him above all powers (Jeremiah 5:22).

(6)  Trust Him in all conditions (Psalm 62:8).

(7)  Rejoice in Him more than in all enjoyment (Philippians 4:4; Habakkuk 3:17-19).

(8)  Meditate on Him on all occasions (Psalm 139:18).

(9)  Pray to Him all your days (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

(10)  Praise Him for all your mercies (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

(11)  Perform all His commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

(12)  Aim at His glory in all your actions (1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 14:6).

2. To man.

(1) To all.

(a)  Love all (Matthew 5:44; Hebrews 10:24).

(b)  Pray for all (1 Timothy 2:1).

(c)  Do good to all (Galatians 6:10).

(d)  Forgive all the injuries they do us (Colossians 3:13; Luke 11:4).

(e)  Be courteous to all (1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 3:8; Romans 12:10).

(f)  Be just to all.

(2) To good men.

(a)  Love them above others.

(b)  Do good to them especially.

(3) To evil men.

(a)  Pity them (Song of Solomon 8:8).

(b)  Reprove their sins (Leviticus 19:17; Matthew 18:15).

(c)  Use all means to bring them to Christ.

V. DIRECTIONS.

1. Get your conscience regulated by God's Word (Psalm 119:105).

2. Directed by His Spirit (Psalm 119:133; John 16:13).

3. Well grounded and settled (Romans 14:5; 2 Peter 1:12).

4. Do nothing against conscience (Romans 14:22, 23).

5. Do everything from conscience (Romans 13:5).

6. Avoid secret as well as open sins (1 John 3:20).

7. Choose the greatest sufferings rather than do the least sin.

8. Balk no duty.

VI. MOTIVES.

1. A good conscience will be a comfort in all troubles (Proverbs 15:15; 2 Corinthians 1:12).

2. An evil conscience will be a trouble in all comforts (Proverbs 18:14).

3. Unless we keep a good conscience it will be a witness against us hereafter, and be our tormentor forever (Mark 9:43, 44), but a good conscience will be our eternal joy.

(Bp. Beveridge.)

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KJV: And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

WEB: Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.