A Tender Conscience by John Owen

The piece draws from the Puritan John Owen to urge believers to cultivate a tender conscience and a watchful heart by meditating on the benefits of the gospel. It emphasizes that cherishing redemption and justification should intensify the awareness of the guilt associated with indwelling sin. The text highlights God's infinite patience and forbearance, contrasting His continued grace with the believer's tendency to test His limits through persistent corruption. It warns against the danger of hardening one's heart and drifting into careless living, urging the listener to fill their conscience with memories of God's providential blessings. The ultimate goal is to reach a state where the conscience is deeply wounded by sin, compelling the soul to seek the vigorous mortification of corruption rather than justifying failure.