“The fault may be, and doubtless is, to some extent, in the individual, but I am satisfied that you are in error in the broad ground you take, Mr. Townsend. Above and beyond man’s will and action, is a Power that rules events. Human prudence is not every thing in fact, it is nothing, when it comes in opposition to the designs of Providence.” “Your profession, as a minister, naturally leads you to such conclusions,” replied the merchant. “But, as a man of business and close observation of men and things, I am satisfied that, in the ordinary pursuits of life, Providence interferes but little; and that all, or nearly all, of success or failure is chargeable to man’s own efficient or inefficient action.” “I will grant that it is chargeable to his ends, and to his actions, so far as they are influenced by his ends. But that the mere possession of mercantile ability, and the means of engaging in trade, will give a man wealth and its permanent enjoyments, I seriously doubt.” “I am not sure, Mr. Carlton, that I understand what you mean by the first sentence of your last remark.” “About a man’s ends influencing his external condition?” “Yes.” “I mean, that a man’s end in seeking wealth may be of such a nature, that, after attaining what he has sought, the loss thereof may be necessary as a reaction upon that end, in order that it may be changed into one less useful and soul-destroying. The Divine Providence, which, I believe, governs in the most intimate things of every man’s life, has sole reference to what is spiritual and eternal, and so disposes of things, external and worldly, as to make them subserve man’s highest and best interests. I believe, therefore, that if it is best for man’s eternal state that he should be poor, and have to struggle hard to obtain mere food and clothing, that he will remain poor in spite of a lifelong effort to get rich. And I also believe, that with one tenth of his effort, another may accumulate a large fortune, who is no better, perhaps not so good a man, but whose hereditary evils are of a nature to be best reacted upon in a state of prosperity.” “Very much like fatalism, all that,” said the merchant. “What use is there in a man’s striving at all?”