our consciences,
enlightened by scripture, shall dictate when kneeling before the
mercy-seat.

9. The responsibility of maintaining a healthful and enlightened
conscience in respect to benevolence. The Bible is the great teacher
and rectifier of the conscience. We must in the first place, then, take
fair, impartial, disinterested views of all the precepts, examples,
promises, and teachings of the Scriptures on this point. We must
investigate them thoroughly, and be sure that we obtain precisely the
mind of the Spirit. Dim or distorted views either cripple the springs
of action, or give them wrong direction. True, the scriptural standard
towers high, and shines brightly. Some would obscure its brightness;
would wrest those passages most vividly presenting it; would convince
themselves that so great sacrifices as some, in their zeal, have
prescribed, are not required; that we are permitted to enjoy our own
interests, and, to a great extent, seek our own happiness; and if we
barely obey the suggestions of natural sympathy, and manifest common
generosity, it is enough. They would bring down this exalted standard
to our own diminutive stature, so that we can measure ourselves by it
without inconvenience. But all such efforts are high-handed rebellion,
and will prove utterly vain. God has placed it on a pedestal high as
the eternal throne, and there it will stand and burn forever. We must
bind our consciences to this standard; they must rise to its height,
and shine with its radiance. If to our selfish hearts it appear a
blood-stained cross, we must nail them to it, and let them bleed and
agonize there. To gratify our selfish desires, God will never lower
his claims. We must come up to them. If unwilling to do it in time,
we shall meet them in all their solemn realities at the final bar; if
we have been obedient, there receiving the smile of our Judge; if not,
his everlasting frown.

Secondly, we should keep ourselves informed of the spiritual wants of
our race. Every one is bound to be in earnest in this work. He should
strive to enstamp on his heart a full-drawn image of the world scathed
by sin. We should realize how great a portion of our globe is yet
untouched by the vivifying light of the Cross; that the desolating
systems of idolatry, of Mohammedism, of Romanism, and other false
religions, are now overshadowing and blasting the nations. We should
search for distinct knowledge of the intellectual d