I Want A Principle Within (A Tender Conscience)

Charles Wesley’s hymn “A Tender Conscience” also known as "I Want A Principle Within" is a profound reflection on the believer’s inner life before God. Written in 1742, during the fervent years of the Methodist revival, it captures Wesley’s deep concern for holiness, personal integrity, and the work of God in shaping a conscience sensitive to His will. The hymn’s central theme resonates with Acts 24:16, where Paul declared, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

In this hymn, Wesley prays for a heart that is soft, receptive, and guided by the Holy Spirit. He recognizes that without divine grace, the conscience can easily become hardened or dulled, leading one to drift into sin without awareness. The “tender conscience” is described as a safeguard, a holy sensitivity that quickly detects sin, even in its smallest form, and drives the believer back to Christ in repentance and faith. Wesley’s words highlight the vital role of the conscience in the Christian walk, not as a self-made moral compass but as a faculty enlightened by the Spirit and shaped by God’s Word.

The hymn also carries a practical application. A tender conscience is not meant to produce constant fear or discouragement, but to keep the believer humble and dependent on Christ. Wesley reminds us that such a gift must be sought in prayer, for only God can maintain that purity of heart. The hymn therefore becomes both a plea and an encouragement, urging Christians to cultivate holiness through constant reliance on grace.

Today, “A Tender Conscience” still speaks to believers who desire a faith that is not careless or complacent, but vigilant and sensitive to the leading of God. It stands as a reminder that a truly tender heart before the Lord is not weakness, but strength, guarding the soul and deepening the joy of walking closely with Christ.