Diary of Alexander Jaffray, provost of Aberdeen

129
CHAPTER X.
1059: ALEXANDER JAFFRAY VISITS GENERAL MONK— THE AFFLICTED CONDI-
TION OF THE THREE NATIONS— HIS OWN " FORMALITY IN PERFORMING OR-
DINANCES," Sic— HE CONTEMPLATES ••SALUTING' GENERAL MONK ON HIS
MARCHING FOR ENGLAND— HIS OCCASIONS FOR HUMILIATION— leUO: •■THE
STILL SMALL VOICE TO DE HEEDED," &c.— ON THE MOTIONS OF THE FLESH,
AND OF THE SI'IRIT-BIRTH OF A SON : HIS VIEWS ON HAVING HIM " BAP-
TIZED"-[HE IS COMMITTED PRISONER TO THE TOLBOOTH OF EDINBURGH]—
ON DYING DAILY TO TEMPORAL DELIGHTS— THE ILLNESS OF SEVERAL OF HIS
CHILDREN— HIS STRONG TEMPTATIONS— HE USES ENDEAVOURS FOR LIBERA-
TION FROM PRISON— PETITIONS THE COMMITTEE OF ESTATES— THE LORD
CHANCELLOR'S PREJUDICE AGAINST HIM— THE LIGHT OF THE LORD'S COUN-
TENANCE WITHHELD FROM HIM ; HE IS REDUCED TO SILENCE IN PRAYER— ON
ENLARGEMENT IN PRAYER-THE DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER SARAH-HIS CON-
CERN ON BEHALF OF HIS SON ALEXANDER.
The 26th and 27tli days [of "October," 1659,] 1 had,
from sad experience, a proof of the truth of what is
expressed in the end of the last page, [this page, or
rather leaf, of the manuscript, being marked the
40th,] — that the victory over sin is not attained, but
through much wrestling and fear ; for want of which,
I was sadly insnared, and my corruption had victory
over me. Upon which, my desires of being, for the
time to come, more watchful, were weakly renewed,
as T could attain to ; and these two Scriptures were
looked on, and some "way made use of, Isai. xxxviii.
14, " T am oppressed ; undertake for me;" and Psal.
Ixxix. 8, " O remember not against us former ini-
quities : let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us ;
for we are brougiit very low!"
About this time, also, through my unwatchfulness,
I was well near run upon another snare. In a visit
K