." When you are
tempted to do a sinful act, it is conscience that quickly whispers, "Now
that is wicked," "If you do that, God will be displeased."

Let me illustrate this thought. One real pleasant day, when the birds
are singing, and everything is attractive out of doors, Johnnie thinks
how hard it is to be studying his lessons in what he calls a prison of a
school-room. He knows that papa and mamma will not give him permission
to stay at home; so a little before nine o'clock, as he saunters towards
the school, Satan suggests to him to play "hookey," and when he comes to
the corner of the street, looking back to be sure that no one sees him,
he turns the corner to remain out of school, intending to come home at
the regular time for dinner and escape discovery. Just as soon as he
turns the corner, and even before that, conscience has seen the danger,
and whispers strong and clear, "Johnnie, this is wicked; you will surely
get into trouble, and you will make papa and mamma sad, and also
displease God." Now, if Johnnie does not turn right back when conscience
warns him, he is sure to go on without having any pleasure all that
forenoon, because his conscience continues to warn and reprove him.

[Illustration: "Willie is more frightened than the dog."]

Or suppose that Willie goes down the street and sees Mr. Brown's dog a
little ways off. He looks around quickly for a stone, and immediately
conscience says, "Now, Willie, don't hit the poor dog, for the stone
will cause him pain, just as it would if some one were to hit you with a
stone." But Willie does not listen to conscience. He throws the stone
with all his might. It strikes on the pavement, just by the side of the
dog, glances and breaks in many pieces the large plate glass in the
window of the drug store.

Willie is more frightened than the dog, and without a moment's
forethought he runs around the corner, to get out of sight. And after
concealing himself for a time in the alley, he steals quietly into the
house at the back door. How he dreads to meet his father and mother.
Every time the door bell rings he thinks surely that it is the druggist
or the policeman. Oh! how this sin pains him; just like the oyster would
be hurt if he does not heed the little crab, when he warns him that the
fish is coming to destroy him. If Willie had only listened to
conscience, what sin and trouble it would have saved him. So, boys and
girls, God has given each of us a conscience,