conscience, when it is forced to speak, will cast up and throw out
before the judgment-seat. It must out; none can speak peace nor
health to that man upon whom God has let loose his own conscience.
Cain will now cry, "My punishment is greater than I can bear;" Judas
will hang himself; and both Belshazzar and Felix will feel the
joints of their loins to be loosened, and their knees to smite one
against another, when conscience stirreth.

When conscience is once thoroughly awakened, as it shall be before
the judgment-seat, God will need say no more to the sinner than
Solomon said to filthy Shimei, "Thou knowest all the wickedness that
thy heart is privy to." As who should say, "Thy conscience knows,
and can well inform thee of all the evil and sin that thou art
guilty of." To all which it answers even as face answers a face in a
glass; or as an echo answers the man that speaks: as fast, I say, as
God chargeth, conscience will cry out, "Guilty, guilty, Lord; guilty
of all, of every whit; I remember clearly all the crimes thou layest
before me." Thus will conscience be a witness against the soul in
the day of God.






V. THE LAW.

ITS NATURE AND EFFECTS.