istinguishing between sin and
righteousness in every present instance, and never for one moment
allowing to sin the value or the results which only righteousness has.
In the minds of men who have been using the world's unrighteous methods
and living for the world's selfish ends, the conviction is to be wrought
that no good can come of all that--that sin is sin and not valid for any
good purpose. Men are to recognise that a distinction is made between
human actions, and that condemnation is pronounced on all that are
sinful.

And this conviction is to be wrought in the light of the fact that in
Christ's victory the prince of this world is judged. The powers by which
the world is actually led are seen to be productive of evil, and not the
powers by which men can permanently be led or should at any time have
been led. The prince of this world was judged by Christ's refusal
throughout His life to be in anything guided by him. The motives by
which the world is led were not Christ's motives.

But it is in the death of Christ the prince of this world was especially
judged. That death was brought about by the world's opposition to
unworldliness. Had the world been seeking spiritual beauty and
prosperity, Christ would not have been crucified. He was crucified
because the world was seeking material gain and worldly glory, and was
thereby blinded to the highest form of goodness. And unquestionably the
very fact that worldliness led to this treatment of Christ is its most
decided condemnation. We cannot think highly of principles and
dispositions which so blind men to the highest form of human goodness
and lead them to actions so unreasonable and wicked. As an individual
will often commit one action which illustrates his whole character, and
flashes sudden light into the hidden parts of it, and discloses its
capabilities and possible results, so the world has in this one act
shown what worldliness essentially is and at all times is capable of. No
stronger condemnation of the influences which move worldly men can be
found than the crucifixion of Christ.

But, besides, the death of Christ exhibits in so touching a form the
largeness and power of spiritual beauty, and brings so vividly home to
the heart the charm of holiness and love, that here more than anywhere
else do men learn to esteem beauty of character and holiness and love
more than all the world can yield them. We feel that to be wholly out of
sympathy with the qualities