You cannot
give yourselves to the sins of youth, or the gayeties of life. You
cannot set your hearts on fashion, dress, amusements, business or any
mere worldly ends, with as much consistency, or with as little guilt, as
your unbaptized associates. _You_ cannot harden yourselves against the
truth, grieve the Holy Spirit, turn away in coldness or disdain from
the claims of Christ, without exposing yourselves to an aggravated
condemnation. Shall you who are pledged servants of Christ, who are
bound to him by solemn covenant, be regardless of these vows, or be
recreant to Him as his avowed enemies? Ah, this is approaching fearfully
near the appalling sin of "treading under foot the Son of God, of
counting the blood of his covenant an unholy thing, and doing despite
unto the Spirit of grace." You cannot, surely, have considered your
relations to Christ and to his church. You cannot have pondered the
nature of your baptismal vows which were taken for you, but which are
now binding upon your own souls. You cannot realize against what
gracious promises, what high, privileges you sin, in living contrary to
your obligations, and in remaining at heart, and by your conduct,
"strangers to God and aliens from the commonwealth of Israel." Review
your position, and remember you are placed where you cannot recede.
Duties press upon you which you cannot disregard; vows are upon you
which you cannot break with safety or with honor.
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