WHEN Addison puts into the mouth of one of his characters the words,
'Tis not in mortals to command success,
But we 'II do more, Sempronius,—
We 'II deserve it,
he at least hints at a great truth. Success is defined by lexicographers as the attainment of some desired end; and conceived of humanly, it has ever appeared to be a highly uncertain and elusive quantity. How often, when men have attempted to command its attendance upon their endeavors, has it been found to defy all their efforts; or, when it appeared to be almost within reach, it has eluded their grasp; else, having attained what they have believed to be success, they have found it fail to give the satisfaction which they had anticipated! The Apostle James. in his epistle, puts his finger on the reason for this when he writes, "Ye lust, and have not: . . . ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." It is evident, therefore, that the first requirement is to learn what really constitutes success, and what methods one may legitimately expect to succeed.
