The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-09-20
"FOOLING WITH SIN. 1"
A Dangerous Weapon That VIII Ger
tninIy Harm II Not Let Alone
Some warnings.

We have heard of people "fooling
with" firearms. 1t was meant that they
were trifling with the risk and danger
involved in carelessly handling loaded
weapons. We regarded them as very
foolish in acting as they did, and often
very serious accidents occurred by such
careless conduct. God tells us, in eff
feet, that persons may fool with" sin.
"Fools make n mock at sim" That is,
they make little matter of sin, as
though there we're little or no danger
connected with its practice. They prao-
tice 1t as recklessly as some people
handle firearms.
This is done by making excuses for 1t.
Anything that persons make excuses for
doing they regard as a comparatively
trivial matter.
Persons fool with" sin when they
rush into it upon slight temptation. 1t
seems scarcely possible for one who
realizes the nature of sin to be easily
led into its commission. If person in
his right mind was standing on the edge
of precipice, no inducement of a
triflng nature would cause him to
throw himself into the abyss below.
Did he do so, we would conclude that
either he was deranged in mind so that
he did not realize the peril of his act or
! life for some reason had lost its sweet
ness to him, and he cared little whether
he lived or died. Esau made light of his
birthright when he sold it for mess of
pottage. judas made light of sin when
he betrayed his Master for 80 pieces of
silver Yet how many sell their sacred
honor; yea, their souls for just as littlel
Some temporary qualification or gain
! will tempt them to do wrong. For
few dollars the highwayman will take
! life. For the sake of making a sale the
salesman will misrepresent his goods.
TO gain some end the witness will per-
jure himself.
Laughing about our past sins, or at
the sins of others is "fooling with" Sin.
1t Is making a light matter of 1t. To
laugh at sin! 1t should rather be the
cause of tears. Did you ever hear peo-
pie tell of their past bad deeds, their
"wild oats sowing" as though it was
great sport? 1t will not do for them TO
say that they have repented OF these
sins, and were now only laughing at
them as past follies. Is that the right
spirit? Were some one to deeply wrong
them and profess sorrow for it, and yet
afterward be overheard telling in great
glee the story of the injury, would not
his former pretensions of sorrow be
suspected as deception Did you
never see people laughing at others
committing sin? 1t is a common sight.
Those who do so are "fooling with" sin.
Reader, If you are "fooling with" sin
in any way, stop 1t at once! 1t is not
only loaded weapon that may possibly
go off and harm you, but it will certain
ly harm you II you do not let it alone.
1T is loaded with divine judgments.
Some of these may be experienced in
this life. How many thorny pillows
have guilty consciences made! the toss
ings to and fro of mental unrest. And
sin not only brings unrest, but is also
the cause of toll and suffering. Sin
brings disease and Indebtedness. That
at which fools mock makes them groan
"His bones are full of the sin of his youth
which shall lie down with him In the
st."-United Presbyterian.