That evening Mr. Allen had a long talk with his son. He gave sound advice on several points, notably the following: "Let conscience be your king, and never attempt to weaken or to deviate from its commands. It is God's merciful messenger within you to testify of Himself, to warn you of danger, and point the right. Beware of trifling with conscience or of weakening its force. You can do so, but when you have silenced it, you will be left like a man, who, on a dark night, in a strange country extinguishes his lantern.