Holding Faith And A Good Conscience
“Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, concerning faith, have made shipwreck.”—I Timothy 1:19
‘He that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.’ So the Master taught, so disciples believe. By perseverance in the faith, the crown shall be enjoyed : glory perfects what grace begins. God’s power is faith’s confidence ; God s truth is faith’s assurance; faith’s author and faith s finisher is Jesus. Therefore, ‘the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.’ Job 17:9. ‘The topstone of finished salvation shall be brought forth with shoutings, grace, grace !’ Zech. 4:7.
Such are the immutable truths of the covenant of grace, the gospel of grace, and the God of grace. Whatever legal spirits do, gracious souls will ever draw gracious influences from the safety and security of grace. ‘Let him who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall; take heed that he be not highminded, and trust in uncertain riches that he fancies he hath obtained by his own faithfulness, creature-ability, and natural free-will, and so be led away from trusting in the living God, who giveth all things. Many such self-sanctified saints have and do daily fall away, and have made terrible shipwreck of their fancied faith, imaginary good conscience, self-applauding inherent righteousness, and have perished in the gulf of vainglory and presumption. Therefore see to it, that you hold fast, and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints; such as the doctrines of eternal election to salvation, according to the everlasting covenant love of the ever glorious Trinity, a finished salvation by the atonement, full justification by the perfect righteousness of Jesus, and final perseverance in holiness by the Spirit of truth. Hold them fast, not in word only, but in power, as the essential truths of Jehovah, as the very life and joy of thy soul. So shalt thou have and keep a good conscience, sprinkled from guilt by the blood of Jesus; and a good testimony of it by the Spirit of grace, through faith. Ever remember, the answer of a good conscience towards God is by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 3:21. Thou couldst obtain it in no other way. Thou canst only enjoy it by the faith of this: beware of putting this away, and hold it fast. Be ‘confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it unto the day of Christ.’ Phil. 1:6.
Amidst a thousand snares I stand,
Upheld and guarded by thy hand,
Thy words my fainting son I revive,
And keep my dying faith alive.
Grace will complete what grace begins,
To save from sorrows or from sins;
The work that wisdom undertakes,
Eternal mercy ne’er forsakes.
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
