January 1929
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The man who thus impressed Dr. Watson was cer tainly no ordinary man. A M an O f P rayer Before closing I would like to emphasize the place that prayer had in Dr. Torrey’s life. He always disclaimed any credit for himself in the results achieved. In his opening address in every mission he read the sixty-second Psalm, and called special attention to the fifth verse: “My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him.” He assured his hearers that if their expectation of
a great revival blessing were fixed upon him or his preach ing, or upon Mr. Alexander and the choir and their sing ing, or upon their organization, they would be disappoint ed ; but if they were depending upon God, then the blessing would surely come. One secretary, writing after a Mission was over, said it took God all of the first week to destroy their confidence in Dr. Torrey and Mr. Alexander. Dr. Torrey spent hours in prayer every day. One of the last entries in his diary reads: “Now I have more time to pray.” Shall we who remain not heed the lesson, and give ourselves more to prayer?
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A R equ isite For a Happy N ew Year B y D r . P . W. P h ilpott (Pastor Moody Church, Chicago )
ND herein do I exercise myself, to have always a JfcywL conscience void of offence toward God, and J P | | j | toward man.”- —Acts. 24:16. gTi0|L We are told that man is a trinity; body, soul and spirit. But there are other faculties with which man has been endowed. These may be incorporated and included in the trinity; they may be sub ordinate to the body, soul and spirit, but they are never theless relatively important. There are memory, mind, will and conscience. I am going to try to talk to you a little while about conscience, not as a metaphysican, but as a preacher of the Gospel. This is a timely topic, for just at this season of the year some men give their conscience a chance to function, and with some this is the only chance it gets. I would help make this a happy new year for every one, and I know of nothing that can make such a generous contribution to one’s happiness and the joy of living as “a conscience void of offence toward God and man.” And conversely, I know of nothing that can so disturb one’s peace, and destroy one’s joy and contentment as a con science that has been abused and disobeyed until seemingly it is dead. The Bible has a great deal to say on this subject. Indeed, when you begin to consult the Scripture on any subject that has to do with your eternal welfare, you will find it has the last word to give. It is the highest court of appeal. It is up-to-date on every great topic, especially those that are related to your eternal salva tion. Indeed we are finding that the Holy Book is not only up-to-date, but it is away ahead of the date; it tells us “of things that will shortly come to pass.” It is the book of God and the God of books; it reveals God to man and it explains man to himself. The Standard Dictionary defines conscience thus: “It is a power or faculty in man by which he distinguishes between right and wrong conduct and character, and which imperatively demands that he do the right and abstain from the wrong.” I read a little while ago of a Bible teacher who was teaching a class of boys one day. Among the questions he asked was, “What is conscience?” One fellow un dertook to define it. He said, “Conscience is a little triangular-shaped thing in the heart of man that always
turns over when you do wrong, and oh, how it hurts !” Now if you can find any theological professor that can beat that I would like to meet him. We have heard it said by the preacher that conscience is an “impartial witness between God and man,” but I have come to believe that conscience is more than a wit ness.1Conscience is the grand assize of the soul. It is the witness, the jury, and the judge. Sometimes it acts as jailer, too. It is ever present. It never sleeps. Nothing escapes its keen gaze or observation. It is a “discerner o f the thoughts and intents o f the heart,” and it always condemns any iniquitous act or evil thought. That is, when it is healthy. It is a kind of burglar alarm like some folks have on their windows and doors. It tells you when evil is approaching. A D efiled C onscience Paul in writing to Titus spake of certain “whose con science was defiled and whose foolish minds were dark ened.” Titus 1 :15. The great business of the devil is, first of all, to darken men’s minds. “The god of this world,” says the apostle, “hath darkened the minds of men that believe not.” For what purpose? “Lest the light of the glorious gospel of God should shine into them.” Satan will do anything to keep from humanity “the light of the glorious gospel of God.” Yes, conscience may be defiled and the mind darkened. That is what is the matter with thousands in this city. They have minds dripping with filth. They cannot think a clean thought. Their bodies are like pig styes where swinish passions revel. There are thousands like that in our great city tonight. The apostle speaks of a conscience “seared as with a hot iron,” 1 Tim. 4:2. Persons possessing such a con science have come to a place where- nothing can move them. I meet lots of people like that. I have talked with men who have said, “Away back yonder I was strangely moved by the story of Calvary, but now it does not impress me. I care for none of these things.” “Conscience may be all at rest, The spirit light and gay, That which was pleasing still may please, And care be flung away.”
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