Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-25
Snow Balls.


BY REV. II, MARrN KELLOGG. rRAscEsrows, Nh
Proverbs xxi 10, /" Foolshness is bound
in the heart Of child" Foolshuess in the
text means sin. Sin is contrary to right
reason and the true interests of a man. Sin
is said to be " bound" that is tied up in the
heart, and it is very hard to break it up and
throw it away, to get the heart entirely clear
of sin. But you, children, will ask, what
has the text to do with snowballs ? For
our pastor promised us SNOWFALL SER
mon." Well, let us see il we can find any
relation between snowballs and sin.
Frst--How do you make SNOWFALL
You know well enough Yesterday saw
some school-boys making snowballs which
just illustrates my point One boy began TO
roll up the sticky snow slowly, and the ball
grew gradually bigger and bigger until it
was too large for him to roll, and he called
another boy to help him, and they together
rolled it up bigger and bigger until others
had to lend their shoulders to the monster
ball. | remember when boy helping to
morning we f,und that rain during the
night had frozen them solid as ice and
had fastened them securely to the ground.
They were then bound " to the earth. No
punching or pushing, or pulling could stir
them.
Second-Sin may be likened to SNOWFALL
that accumulates gradually from very
small beginning. cross word, surly look,
pouting lip, disobedient act, a petty
falsehood, may be the first of sin which
rises and grows slowly aud unawares until
it becomes a great ball "bound in the
heart" and loading the heart down with
heavy and bad burden.
Thrd-Children, how do you get rid of
big Snowflake Did you ever think that
it is easier to make it than it is to get
rid Of it? d. you get rid of it by breaking
it to pieces and trampling it into the ground
No, the snow yet remains. When the
branches of the trees in your fathers ORCH
ard are laden with snow and ice, do you de-
stroy it by knocking it off the branches with
sticks ? No. l saw man yesterday drive
an OK sled by, trying to break out the deep
drifts in the road. He had plow on each
side Of the sled and harrow behind. Did
that destroy the snow Does your father
get rid of the snow in the fields by blowing
and narrowing it down You smile at all
this, for you know better. l needn't stop to
tell you that the sun melts the snow, and
that that is the only way that it is got rid
of. We must wait for the sun to become
warm enough to soften and melt the snow so
that it may flow down our hillsides and be
soaked up by the ground.
Fourh-Children, this suggests how to
get rid of the ball or burden of sin which is
I" bound in the heart of child" Some try
to knock it out of the heart, but always fail.
Some try to tread it down and run over sin
as something of little account, and already
in the dust, but in vain. l will tell you
story about this. A little boy of some ten
years had disobeyed his father and tried to
hide the sin by telling lie. When night
came his father kissed him and prayed with
him as usual, and put him to bed, but he
couldn't go to sleep. He felt too guilty.
That loving kiss and that fervent prayer
were too much for him to rest easy. Finally,
in the middle Of the night, he got up and
went to his fathers chamber door and
knocked. His fathers voice responded,
What is it, my son ?" and Immediately the
door opened and he was embraced by his
fathers arms. With tears and trembling he
confessed his sin and asked forgiveness, and
went back to bed with free heart and
the load all gone. Now that fathers warm
heart of love melted the snow-sin bound up
in the heart of that child as nothing else
could do it, So our Heavenly Father has a
warm heart of love, and it shines down in
smiles and mercy and forgiveness upon the
hard heart of sin and melts it. You know
that Gods Spirit has been called the Sun
of Righteousness" because like the sun of
the sky, he shines down into the sinful
heart TO melt it, and to leave divine right
eousness there.
FIih-Now, children, what takes the place
of the SNOWFALL When spring comes, and
the snow has melted and has disappeared,
green grass and fragrant flowers and sing
ing birds and genial warmth take the place
OF snow. What takes the place of the bur
den of sin in the heart When the Father
forgives us and the sun of righteousness
shines upon us with spiritual warmth there
will be ripping music of joy, sprouting
buds of Christian graces, fragrant love,
sweet temper, calm patience, quick obedi-
ence, rich faith, reliant courage and lasting
truth in the summer garden of the regener-
ated heart.
Don't you want to get rid Of sin in your
heart Then come to your Heavenly
Father as that little boy did, and be for
given. He says Suffer the little children
to come unto me-"
Tho Wit af N nau