them on the ground that you had no agency in assuming them.  They were assumed for you by those who had the right to do it—­a right recognized by both God and man—­and you cannot therefore throw them off; you cannot willfully disregard or live contrary to them, without guilt and dishonor.  The apostle urges this principle when he testifies “to every man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”  His consecration to God in this rite bound him to keep his whole law; and yet this obligation was imposed on him when an infant only eight days old; but after arriving at maturity, he could not shake it off.  He was a debtor still, for he was placed in that position in accordance with the divine command and by those who had the authority over him.  With equal propriety may we now testify unto you who are baptized, that you are debtors unto Christ.  You are bound to keep the laws of his kingdom, bound to serve him to whose service you have been set apart.  You are not your own; you are not, therefore, to live unto yourselves.  The vows of God are upon you.  You have been sealed with his seal.  And since you have attained an age at which you can understand your position, you are bound to perform those vows; to seek to be sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption.  There is no escape from this obligation; and when, therefore, you live utterly regardless of it, as many do, your conduct is doubly criminal.  You may have flattered yourselves that you enjoyed superior advantages, and that you were more highly favored than others; and this is true.  But you must take into the account your corresponding responsibilities.  There is a broad distinction between your position, and that of mere worldlings, and there ought to be a like difference in your practice.  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