he onward progress of mankind is fatally, radically,
curelessly wrong. The motto on every Christian banner is "Forwards."
There is no resting in the present, no satisfaction in the past.

The last thing we learn from this is the impossibility of obtaining
that of which some men speak--the satisfaction of a good conscience.
Some men write and speak as if the difference between the Christian
and the worldly man was this, that in the one conscience is a
self-reproaching hell, and in the other a self-congratulating heaven.
Oh, brethren, is this the fact? Think you that the Christian goes home
at night counting up the noble deeds done during the day, saying to
himself, "Well done, good and faithful servant?" Brethren, that habit
of looking forwards to the future prevents all pride and
self-righteousness, and makes our best and only rest and satisfaction
to consist in contemplating the future which is bringing us nearer and
nearer home. Our motto, therefore, must be that striking one of the
Apostle Paul, "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth to those things which are before, I press towards the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

XIII.

_Preached January 4, 1852._

CHRISTIAN CASUISTRY.

"Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become
uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be
circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is
nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let every man
abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called
being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free
use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant,
is the Lord's freeman; likewise also he that is called being free,
is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the
servants of men. Brethren, let every man wherein he is called
therein abide with God."--1 Corinthians, vii. 18-24.

The whole of these seven chapters of the First Epistle of the Apostle
Paul to the Corinthians, is occupied with questions of Christian
casuistry. In the application of the principles of Christianity to the
varying circumstances of life, innumerable difficulties had arisen,
and the Corinthians upon these difficulties had put certain questions
to the Apostle Paul. This seventh chapter contains the apostle's
answer to many of these q