Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-09-14
TRUE
SUCCESS
By Rev. Stephen PauIson

TExT-The righteous also shall hold on
his way and no that hath clean hands
shall wax s,ronger.-Job i7:9
Every rlghtmlndcd person should
desire success. The young man who
does not desire to be successful
might just as well pick out his coffin,
for he will never be of much account
In this life But what is success,
That Is what we want to talk about
for there seem to be widely divergent
opinions on that subject.
Over 400 years ago Columbus was
about to discover a new world. His
seamen grew impatient OF the priva-
lions and hardships OF an apparently
hopeless voyage Westward sailed
the little flotilla over a shoreless sea.
where no island or cliff gave relief to
the weary eve. Now and then
bank Of cloud on far horizon re-
Viyed hope only to plunge them into
deeper gloom. At last detection rip
ened into discomfort, and terror into
mutiny. which was stilled only by the
courage and resolution OF the great
explorer. No land was yet in sight.
but Columbus persuaded them to hold
on three days longer. On the second
day some trce-twigs were seen float
ing by; then a plank cut by a hatch
eft: then branch OF hawthorn In
flower. These silent witnesses told Of
land not far Of: and now the men
who the previous day we're breathing
rebellion. gathered around their com
mander with sxtravagant fiattery i'm
ploring his forgiveness
II Is no doubt a truth old as hui
manity that nothing succeeds like
success" One stroke OF good bust
ness gives man a better chance for
a second: but let a man equally de-
serving meet with one failure, and
success sinks further away.
One OF the worst features OF our
age Is the worship OF mere success.
apart from the means by which II
was attained. Personal worth may go
10 the wall: man IL measured &C
eording 10 his prosperity. There is n
success that Is not worth having, and
there Is failure that Is more TO be de
sired than success. The fact Is that
the common conception OF the subject
requires emendation.
What is your ideal Of success? In
the majority OF cases the answer
would be. fortune or position. Well.
these are fine things TO have. but they
can be bought too dear. They are
bought every day at the price OF
honor. self-respect. a good conscience.
peace Of mind. and even immortal
hope. The price is too great Amer
lea is full OF the "get.rich-quick"
spirit We revel in stories Of million
aires who were bare-footed newsboys
in their youth. And Il is true that
many OF these men deserve credit for
their energy and foresight. But can
we not get n higher ideal of success
than the mere accumulation OF
riches?
In our text We are given the neces.
sary elements OF success. "The right
eous also shall hold on his way, and
he that hath clean hands shall wax
stronger and stronger" Here are
mentioned three things which are alb
solutely necessary to every young
mans success in life. and they are
piety. perseverance, and purity.
First We have piety. or love and
trust in God. No true success ca Ne
obtained without that. 1t is true til
by throwing conscience to the winds.
you may occasionally make gains
which to the upright are impossible:
but there is a curse which pursues
such profits even In that world. Their,
is no doubt that the youth who enters
upon life with a sense of accountable
ity TO God. has great advantage. Lord
Lytton says. "A mn is already of
in the world when Il is
known that he can be implicitly re-
lied upon" 1t is a great mistake that
many young men make to drop their
religion as soon as they get out into
active business life
Our next quality is perseverance.
The righteous man shall hold on his
way" The failure of many young
men in life is due TO the lack OF this
power TO hold on. A young man en-
tiers business. but after few months
he thinks he has made a mistake. so
he begins to study medicine. Soon
he grows heartily weary OF that. and
he thinks he is cut out for the law
Thus he drifts from one thing to an
other. and makes a success of none
He lacks perseverance. the power to
hold on" II is an excellent thing
for a youth. as soon as his school
days are over. to have to depend to
a great extent upon his own exer-
tons. President Garfield once said.
In nine times out Of ten, the best
thing that can happen to a young
man Is 10 be tossed overheard and
compelled to sink or swim for him
self. In all my acquaintance. never
knew a man to be drowned who was
worth saving"
The third requisite to success 4.
purity. He that hath clean hands
shall wax stronger and stronger"
This is the outward and practical
side OF piety. Let the prayer OF the
psalmist be yours. Create in me a
clean heart. o God" That is neces-
sary TO clean hands. You must con.
duct a clean business If you would
have clean hands. You cannot be a
party to dishonest dealing and re-
main undefiled. You cannot touch
pitch and not become smirched. Here
is where your piety and faith In God
should be your stay. Your Christian
principles are worthless unless they
decide your course. leaving all the
consequences to God.
Our Best Friend.