regard to the things of religion, both of these things
are most obvious. Would not that parent deal unjustly with his child,
who, instead of bequeathing to him some privilege for his acceptance,
would say, I do not know whether or not he will conform to the duties
connected with it, and therefore I will sacrifice it or leave it to
another? And would a child to whom some peculiarly valuable privilege
has been bequeathed, and of the fruits of which he may have largely
partaken, be warranted in reckoning as unlawful an entailed obligation
to corresponding duty? Do not the laws of a nation find an individual
bound so soon as he opens his eyes on the light of the sun? And ought
not moral obligations, entered into willingly by Covenanting parents and
ancestors, also, to hold the rising race completely bound? The
privileges of civil society are available to youth long before they are
able of themselves to take an active part in its public affairs; and
thus these are brought under an obligation to support its good laws so
soon as they voluntarily and effectively can. The privileges of a
Christian community are, to a certain extent, enjoyed by its youth long
before they can exert themselves actively for its interests; they are,
therefore, under obligation, and so soon as they can perceive the
importance of its voluntary Covenant engagements, they ought explicitly,
to accede to them. Would it be cruel to cut off children from the
privileges of civil society because of their feebleness? and would it
not be cruel to deprive them of the advantages of covenants made for a
defence to ourselves, which they equally need? Would it be hideously
wicked to expose them to the knife of the murderer? and would it not be
unspeakably criminal, by disregarding their education and failing to
make engagements to instruct them, to abandon them to be poisoned by
infidelity, superstition, error, or immorality? And if, by Covenanting
and the fulfilment of the solemn engagements made on their behalf, the
best privileges that could be bequeathed to youth, are conveyed to them,
are they warranted to cast off the pleasing yoke of obligation, so
gently laid upon them, and by resolving to neglect duty, to manifest
themselves as unworthy of all the care that had been employed on their
behalf? But it cannot be: all who have enjoyed the positive spiritual
blessings that are conferred, in the mercy of God, on those who have
entered into public solemn Covenants wi