For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts--murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander.

Paul fixed his eyes upon the Council, and began: "Brothers, for my part, I have always ordered my life before God, with a clear conscience, up to this very day."

This being so, I strive at all times to keep my conscience clear before both God and man.

For they show the demands of the Law written upon their hearts; their consciences corroborating it, while in their thoughts they argue either in self-accusation or, it may be, in self- defense--

But throughout my body I see a different law, one which is in conflict with the law accepted by my reason, and which endeavors to make me a prisoner to that law of Sin which exists throughout my body. Miserable man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body that is bringing me to this Death? read more. Thank God, there is deliverance through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Well then, for myself, with my reason I serve the Law of God, but with my earthly nature the Law of Sin.

I am speaking the truth as one in union with Christ; it is no lie; and my conscience, enlightened by the Holy Spirit,

This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God's officers, devoting themselves to this special work.

If, when praying, I use the gift of 'tongues,' my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank. What, then, is my conclusion? Simply this-I will pray with my spirit, but with my mind as well; I will sing with my spirit, but with my mind as well.

As surely as there is a human body, there is also a spiritual body.

And you will give thanks to the Father who made you fit to share the lot which awaits Christ's People in the realms of Light.

For you died, and your Life now lies hidden, with the Christ, in God.

Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving;

and has revealed at his own time in his Message, with the proclamation of which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior.

My reason for leaving you in Crete was that you might put in order what had been left unsettled, and appoint Officers of the Church in the various towns, as I myself directed you.

Everything is pure to the pure-minded, but to those whose minds are polluted and who are unbelievers nothing is pure. Their minds and consciences are alike polluted.

But have nothing to do with foolish discussions, or with genealogies, or with controversy, or disputes about the Law. They are useless and futile.

For that was only a type, to continue down to the present time; and, in keeping with it, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though incapable of satisfying the conscience of the worshiper;

how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through his eternal Spirit, offered himself up to God, as a victim without blemish, purify our consciences from a lifeless formality, and fit us for the service of the Living God!

let us draw near to God in all sincerity of heart and in perfect faith, with our hearts purified by the sprinkled blood from all consciousness of wrong, and with our bodies washed with pure water.

Pray for us, for we are sure that our consciences are clear, since our wish is to be occupied with what is good.