Our price: £0.50, by David Fountain
Published by Mayflower Christian Books
Why do people react in the way they do to the gospel? What is the conscience and what is its role? How can we have a healthy conscience? How can we train it and respect it?
First published in 1973, this booklet, ‘Let Conscience Speak’, is timeless in the great help it gives in understanding ourselves and others. Let Conscience Speak is invaluable for evangelism and Christian growth.
About Let Conscience Speak – from the Foreword – by Dr Peter Masters
I am privileged to introduce this lucid treatment of ‘Conscience’ to readers because it is unique. There is no similar study of this subject available to the public today.
The absence of such literature reminds me of the exclamation of the man born blind, “Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened my eyes.” I am quoting out of context – but is this not just how it is with us? The Lord has touched our consciences and led us to Calvary. Then He has begun the work of sanctification using this precious spiritual faculty. Yet, for all that, we know next to nothing about the working of the conscience.
To my shame I confess that I witnessed for some time as a Christian worker – trying to act as a physician of souls – before I learned anything about this vitally important spiritual organ. How can we counsel and teach for the Lord without understanding the ‘faculties of the soul’? We behave too often like unqualified surgeons let loose in the operating theatre.
The value of this study is that it will give to all who are seeking fruitfulness in service a clear grasp of the role of conscience. It explains, for example, the different ways in which the conscience will react to the preaching of the Gospel. Once we understand these reactions we immediately become better qualified to counsel those who come under the sound of the Gospel.
Not only is this essential for all who desire to be ‘soul winners’, but it is vital also for those who seek to be ‘shepherds’ among the Lord’s people. Do we understand the moods, attitudes and reactions which often create problems in our midst? Do we understand the legalist, the spiritual adolescent, and so on? The faculty of conscience, its function and its health must be studied if we are to make headway as Christian people.
We are greatly indebted to Pastor Fountain for making his study pastoral and practical. He could so easily have chosen to write up an academic and theological “classic” on this material.
I hope that thousands of Christian workers will instead benefit from this presentation of it.
Peter Masters
Metropolitan Tabernacle (Spurgeon’s), Elephant and Castle, London, SE1.
(April, 1973)
From the closing chapter of Let Conscience Speak
As we conclude this booklet the final word must be simply this: consider the Scriptures that have been used and see for yourself whether or not they have been handled in a Biblical way.
Do not accept the writer’s word; Scripture alone is our guide. Then apply these words to the understanding of your own conscience. Give conscience work to do in telling you about itself and your attitude towards it.
Give conscience the material to work on that you might know its nature and function, then listen very carefully to whether it condemns you in your attitude towards it, and respond to whatever recommendation it may make, that you may be more careful in future to give it the respect it deserves.
We shall one day stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, whose eyes are “as a flame of fire”. He is the Judge of all, and we shall see ourselves then in the clear light of His holiness and justice, and He has given us a judge which will prepare us for that day. Let us praise Him for this precious gift, and use it fully for His glory.