The sin of Judas was covetousness, or “the love of money.” The apostle Paul tells us that this—“is the root of all evil.” I. Tim. vi: 10. The little company of the apostles made Judas their treasurer. He carried the purse for them. He received the money that was contributed for their expenses, and paid out what was needed from day to day. We may suppose that, soon after his appointment to this office, he found himself tempted to take some of this money for his own use. Perhaps he only took a penny or two, at first, but then he soon went on to take more. Now, if he had watched and striven against this temptation, at the very first, and had prayed for strength to resist it, what a different man he might have been! There is an old proverb which says—“_Resist the beginnings._” Our only safety is in doing this. Judas neglected to resist the beginning of his temptation and the end of it was his ruin. We never can tell what may come out of one sin that is not resisted. If you want to sink a ship at sea, it is not necessary to make half a dozen big holes in her side; one little hole, which you might stop with your finger, if left alone, will be enough to sink that ship. Judas gave himself up to the power of one sin, and _that_ led him on to betray his Master. Let us look at some illustrations of the power of one sin. “Clara’s Obstinacy.” Little Clara Cole was saying her prayers one evening before going to bed. Part of her evening prayer was the simple hymn—“And now I lay me down to sleep.” When she came to the last line she stopped short and would not say it. “Go on, my dear, and finish it,” said her mother. “I can’t,” she said, although she knew it perfectly well, and had said it hundreds of times before. “Oh, yes! go right on, my child.” “No; I can’t.” “My dear child, what makes you talk so? Say the last line directly.” But, in spite of her mother’s positive commands and loving entreaties, Clara was obstinate, and would not do it. “Very well,” said Mrs. Cole at last: “you can get into bed; but you will not get up till you have said that line.” Next morning Mrs. Cole went into Clara’s room as soon as she heard her stir. “Now, Clara,” she said pleasantly, “say the line, and jump up.” “I can’t say it,” said Clara, obstinately, and she actually lay in bed all that day, and part of the next rather than give up. The second day was her birthday and a number of little girls had been invited, in the evening, to her birthday party. That little, strong, cruel will of hers held out till three o’clock; then she said, “I pray the Lord my soul to take,” and bursting into tears asked her mother’s forgiveness. How much power there was in that one sin! No one can tell what trouble it might have caused that poor child if she had not been taught to conquer it. But after that it never gave her much trouble.