Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-28
The Day Of SmaII ThIng..

The most successful toilcrs are those who
know best how to serve God in small
things The Almighty never " despises the
day Of small things" or else he would not
put his mighty oaks into acorns, OF his golden
grain-crops into little seedlings.
Nearly all the greatest and best things bad
their feeble beginnings. The Mississippi be-
gins as a riyulet the splendid suspension
bridge at Niagara first went over the deep
chasm as a mere kte-string. Aud the no.
blest, holiost Christian lives had their origin
in some word faithfully spoken, or in the
reading Of o tract, or the offering Of bro
ken and brief prayer, or in a solemn resolu-
tion to quit fayorito sins aud yield to Jesus
One sentence seems to have brought Peter
and John to follow Christ. One sentence
converted the jailor Of Philippi Now if ey-
cry Christian life sprsuted out Of the act Of
single hour, and was probably the result Of
some humble agency then il is a sin and a
folly 10 " despse the day Of small things"
Cases to illustrate this truth thicken 10 our
memory. A goodly woman spoke kindly t.
her maid-scryant about her soul the garden
er overheard the conversation through a
hedge, and was himself convicted Of his sins
Stray arrows often hit the mark. The late
DR.. William Wisner once stopped on q not
summer day at Berkshire farmhouse for a
glass Of water He talked faithfully with
the young lady whe gave him the refreshing
draught, and directed her to the living wa
ter Long years afterwards middle-aged
woman introduced herself to the Doctor on q
steamboat, aud thanked him for the plain,
kind word that brought her to the Savior.
Harlan Page, coming early to meeting
found a stranger sitting there, aud politely
spoke to him. The conversation went on un-
I'll the man-who said that Christians had
always kept him al arms leagthn before
was melted into penitcnce On the last day
Of the year 1867, met a man Of fifty in the
streets and said to him, Had not you and
| better begin the new year with a Reic
Ue?' That simple remark set him to think.
ing, and resulted in his conversion.
The lesson Of all these cases aud Of innu-
merable Others like them is, that tho most ef.
fectual way to save sinners, is to use the dag
Of small things, and seize our opportunities
Nearly all reyivals start with single man
or woman. One live coal can kinde great
flame
There is another view Of this matter A.
the usefulness of Christian grows out ot
little deeds well done, so the influence Of many
Christians is terribly poisoned by itfls SINS
Alas How great sinners we may be in small
things Little irritatious of look and mau.
ner-little mcannesses in our daily dealing.
little fbs and nsncerites Of speeeh--lit
tie jealousios and spites-litte neglects o
kind acts We might do-all these are the " IT.
tic foxes that have spoiled many a goodly
vine, Pile up enough tiny snow-fakes on ;
railway track, and they will blockade tn,
most, powerful locomotive, So | verify be
Ilieyc that tho aggregate sum Of Christians
daily inconsistencies and neglects of duty Of
ten block up revival, and stay the proges,
Of Christ's Kingdom Jesus Christ laid great
emphasis on g keeping the least Of his com
lmandments. That was an awfully mischiev
ots spark thai lightcned Chicago into blaze
but il fcdS once only spark
This brings me to say to the unconverted
it is fatal mistake to think that any willu
sin is trihe If you are lost, my deal
friend, it is not likely that one huge Grim,
like Judas, or Pilates, or Ananias', will sinl
you to perdition 1t will be the sam of you
daily sins left unrepented of-the aggregat,
of thousands of offenses against Gods Law
and Gods love. | pray you, do not say, " Oh
this is not much.' No sin is a trhe. n,
sin is harmless.
Ny last thought is that life is series Q
steps. Each step counts, Coming to Jesu
is single step. 1t may be the work Of
moment. 1t may turn on a small pivot. An,
you will never come to Christ, or never reaol
heaven while you continue to despise III
day of small things. "-Reu. 7. L. Cuyle,
IN american Messenger