A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

INTRODUCTION.The following definition of Conscience seems to besanctioned by an eminent writer* :—A native tendencyin the mind of man to contemplate the actions of himselfand others, united to a susceptibility of derivingpleasure or dissatisfaction from the perception of themas moral or immoral.This definition, although so framed as to includeevery thing which seems to be known with certaintyon the subject, is nevertheless considered by many asliable to controversy. Some would object to consciencebeing called a native tendency of the mind, and maintainthat it should be considered as an acquired capability.Others allow, that man really possesses suchan original capability, but contend that it approves orcondemns actions, not according as they are right orwrong in themselves, but according as mankind aretaught by education so to consider them.It is evidentthat each of these several opinions cannot be correct,and no less so, that it is highly desirable to ascertainwhich of them is so ; not only upon the general principlethat correct ideas on all topics are to be preferred,* Dr. Thomas Browa.