After we have been able, by the grace of God, to subdue any besetting sin, and it seems to be dead, let us still be confessing to God that it is _within us_. By thus doing we shall show that we are not living on the victory but on God Himself. Indwelling sin will be thus regarded by the eye of our Father rather as our sickness than our fault. All unconfessed sin has power over us; but all confessed sin God helps us to subdue: He will never blame us for sins confessed. The speediest confession is the easiest and the best. Conscience When peace reigns in the Conscience there is always power over sin. Peace is like a sentinel that keeps guard at the door of the heart; if the sentinel be off his post, either the tumult within drowns the voice of the Spirit, or, because of the stillness of death, his voice is not heard. A guilty Conscience is one of Satan's great weapons against the children of God: faith can only be bold as the Conscience is clean. There is no trial to the believer like guilt upon the Conscience; but it is the triumph of faith to see guilt removed by the atoning blood of Christ. A very little stain upon the Conscience makes a wide breach in our communion with God. If we have a doubt upon our minds upon any point, we should go straight to Jesus to get it solved. Love abhors a winding course. If the Conscience be not rightly instructed, it becomes a tool for Satan; if it speaks a false peace, it works ruin; and if it does not speak peace at all, it is a tormentor. We should never deal lightly with the whispers of a doubtful Conscience. Let Christ keep the heart, and the heart shall keep the life. Our lack of walking in the Spirit often moves others to like negligence. How great a blessing is a tender Conscience; one that will discern and deal with a little sin—that will lead us to say, "Search me, O God!" In this state we not only grieve at an angry thought, or an outbreak of temper, but even for a thought of unbelief that may but _glance_ across the mind. The pardon of sin sealed on the Conscience strengthens the soul for communion with God; whilst guilt on the Conscience drives us from God. These are noiseless things in the world, but great things with God. The child of God should remember that he has the root of every evil within him: if he take not heed to tend the garden of his Conscience, evil weeds will spring up and grow; especially will the besetting sins of his unconverted days be his plague. A scrupulous Conscience comes of the flesh, and ignorance of God's will; but a good Conscience is among the best of God's blessings, for it is cleansed by the blood of Christ, and enlightened by the scriptures and the Spirit of God. We must deal with our Consciences as people do with their houses: if they would keep their dwellings clean, they must day by day be cleaning. A spiritual Conscience deals most with the evil of the heart; but when the conscience is not spiritual, the heart is the last thing dealt with.