rs of the Church, and are
therefore under obligation. Because of their relation to their parents,
children are in possession of the peculiar privileges of the families to
which they belong; and to perform the duties of these, they are under
obligation. Every child of a citizen, or free member of civil society,
in consequence of its birth, is entitled to the protection and other
privileges of that society, and is viewed as bound by the laws of that
community. In like manner, every child born of those in communion with
the Church, is viewed as the care of the Church, and as under the
obligations of its members. In the providence of God, children are cast
upon the care of parents and of civil communities; and are they not
committed to the regard of the society of the faithful? Duties are
incumbent upon them, in consequence of their civil relations; and are
none obligatory on them because of their relation to the Church? The
Lord himself recognises the children of believing parents as the members
of his Church. In order to manifest his claim upon them, and acceptance
of them as such, He instituted the ordinance of circumcision in a former
period, and that of baptism to be obligatory in the present. Children
are, therefore, bound by the obligations of the Church. Is that moral
obligation which binds the father, not binding on the son? If the
parent, by Covenanting, ought to vow to observe a system of moral
duties, ought not the offspring? Is what is good for the one, bad for
the other? Would it be consistent for a father, after having willingly
engaged to duty for himself, to say such may or may not, according to
his pleasure, and in either case, too, without any blame, be done by my
son? Certainly the earlier that an obligation to do good can be
conferred, the better. And if a parent can lawfully act for his child in
any other matter, why not in performing this?

The privileges enjoyed by the children of those in communion with the
Church, manifest them to be under obligation. Duty and privilege are
universally connected; and hence, where the one is awanting, the other
cannot be found. In the beneficent arrangements of Divine love to the
young, the latter is first extended. The enjoyment of it by them is a
palpable evidence that obligation rests upon them. It is an adage among
men, that what one inherits from his ancestors he owes to his
descendants; and it is also manifest, that along with privilege, duty is
hereditary. In