Page:Southern Presbyterian Journal, Volume 13.djvu/845

 the last two sections of Chapter XXI treat of the Sabbath or Lord's Day. In the time of Christ the Pharisees added non-scriptural restrictions to the keeping of the Sabbath, and Jesus rebuked them for it. Even our Scottish forefathers seem to have been inconsistently strict; for it is hard to believe that shaving in the morning desecrates the day any more than washing the hands or brushing the teeth. But the faults of those who were too strict do not exonerate those who are too lax. And no one can deny that this age errs on the side of laxity. I know one man and wife who could not come to church because they had to give their dog a walk! And others who know more about the Bible have repudiated all the Ten Commandments chiefly because they think the fourth is legalistic. Would it not be strange if a purely ritual and temporary requirement had been put fourth in a list of such all important duties?

The following chapter of the Confession, on Oaths and Vows, contains nothing difficult and hence can be passed over with a brief mention. Those who desire Scriptural guidance with respect to some parts of private worship will find the reading of this chapter quite helpful. Among other things it points out that religious oaths and vows are not lightly to be taken; but when made, they are to be faithfully kept, even when made to heretics and infidels.

Further, the content of all oaths and vows must be in conformity with the Scripture; for it is a sin to make a sinful vow. Therefore the "Popish monastical vows . . . are superstitious and sinful snares in which no Christian may entangle himself."

ANGLERS

(By the Editor of The Testament for Fishers of Men)

Lesson No. 97

The Unusual In fin fishing I believe more strange and unreasonable things happen than in any other sport. On most fishing trips you may expect to have a surprise of some sort - sometimes so unusual and unheard of that you hesitate to tell about it to anyone but a fisherman. Even at that, a fisherman friend told me once that the only time a fisherman ever tells the truth is when he calls another fisherman a liar. So if you are not a fisherman just skip to the next paragraph. I was fishing for bass. Put a small perch on the hook for bait, threw the line out and pretty soon got a strike. Quite a bit of line reeled off and when it slackened I gave it a yank and immediately felt the tug; reeled the bass right to the edge of the boat and it flipped off, returning an empty hook. Then I put a minnow on the hook and flung it out; almost immediately another strike and the reel whizzed as before; but I did not wait so long this time to set the hook and drag my fish to the boat's edge. Again it flipped off and darted away; but it did not return to me an empty hook this time. Instead, there was still the minnow, and on the hook with it—the perch that I had used first! The same bass had dealt with both baits. When it swallowed the minnow, the protruding point of the hook had entered the swallowed perch, so Mr. Bass had no difficulty in disgorging both when I put out the landing net to take him in. It was as much as to say, "Mister, I'm mighty hungry or I wouldn't have given you two chances, but I can do without these and get my breakfast somewhere else." Too bad I was alone and had no witness to sign an affidavit before a notary public.

In fishing for men, strange things happen, too. It is an adventure that brings surprises, sometimes very happy ones. I moved to a Southern city and established a cotton export business. I was a rather nominal member of the Presbyterian Church, but good enough to transfer my membership to the "First Church" soon after my arrival. This seemed to make an impression and not long afterward they elected me to the diaconate.

Being made a deacon stirred me to the desire to be of some service. I had been of little value to the church before. The pastor was a real personal worker, and one day he asked me if I would like to go with him to the state house MARCH 2, 1955