Nay, the creation of it is already begun, and the pangs of the waking conscience are the prophecy of the new birth.
With that pitiful cry of his wife after her lost child, disbelief in himself got within the lines of his defense; he could do no more, and began to loathe that conscious self which had hitherto been his pride.
Whatever the effect of illness may be upon the temper of some, it is most certainly an ally of the conscience.

All pains, indeed, and all sorrows, all demons, yea, and all sins themselves under the suffering care of the highest minister, are but the ministers of truth and righteousness.

I never came to know the condition of such as seemed exceptionally afflicted but I seemed to see reason for their affliction, either in exceptional faultiness of character or the greatness of the good it was doing them.
But conscience reacts on the body--for sickness until it is obeyed, for health thereafter.

The moment conscience spoke thus plainly to Tom, the little that was left of his physical endurance gave way, his illness got the upper hand, and he took to his bed--all he could have for bed, that is--namely, the sofa in the sitting-room, widened out with chairs, and a mattress over all.

There he lay, and their landlady had enough to do.