Series 1 > Journal of the Hon. John Erskine of Carnock, 1683-1687

140
JOURNAL OF THE HON.
[JULY
church, some messengers having searched Torrie house for her.
That which I desire is that the Lord would give her grace to
be honest for Him, not regarding worldly losses, and walk
stedfastly in his way, not yeilding in any thing which is but an
appearance of evil to those who are enemies to the cross of
Christ, and wait for the halting of his people; and that the
Lord would give her strength patiently to bear his afflicting
hand, give her health under this trouble, and in due time
relieve her of her troubles. I wrote to her thus with John
M‘Vicker,—I am truely concerned and troubled anent the
anxiety I hear you are put in by your thoughts of my present
trouble and hazard. Any inconveniences or bit of trouble I
have been as yet trysted with have been easy to me, for which
I praise the Lord who hitherto has done great things for me,
and He whose cause it is, is able sufficiently to furnish me with
strength to encounter the worst of tryals, yea even or death, if
I suffer aright for him. Its not suffering, but sin and the
wrath of God due for sin, which I fear most. This ought to
be our great concern, to put sin far away and suffer patiently
the Lord’s correcting hand, searching and trying out our ways
that we may know wherefore he contends with us, and turn
again unto the Lord. I added, with other particulars, it was
like they would be few whom God would honour to give a
testimony upon scaffolds, in respect of those who were like to
be cut off otherways before the end of those calamities.
3(M.—This day Alison Crighton came to me, having brought
a letter from William Cleland to me, which I think fit to
insert, being anent the business in hand, it was as follows:—
Sir,—I wrote to Mr. Ure last week, and had an intention to
have written or sent to you before this, but various unexpected
accidents engaged me to delay. Mr. Bare , Mr. Lang ,
Mr. Fullarton, and severall others your acquaintance are to¬
gether. They desire that yourself, Mr. Foster, Mr. Bruce, and
Mr. Ure, to whom you may communicate this line, may also
meet with us, that we and others may resolve upon something
rational. We have been doing what we can, and are of the
judgement we may by God’s assistance endeavour somewhat
suitable to our circumstances, which we shall concert with you
at meeting : Dated Glasgow, 25th July 1685: signed—