Series 2 > Diary of Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, 1650-1654

INTRODUCTION
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the Psalms,’ and wagging his head and weavling (?) his
mouth at the singing.1 Even at the communion-table
he wrote.2 Once he complains that he found his spirit
‘ vaiging ’ while his hand was writing.3 He was greatly
interested in the conversion of the Jews and Indians.4
Though far from approving of Cromwell’s vast toleration,5
he was not the author of The Key of True Policy,6 which
had been attributed to him, and which maintained that
Malignants, especially Scottish Malignants, ‘ the most vile
vermine in the world,’ should be rooted out as the seed
of Amalek! He had a hand, however, in the preparation
of the Solemn League and Covenant,7 a fact hitherto
unknown ; and he wrote the first draft of the Causes of the
Lord's Wrath,8 which has been long assigned to James
Guthrie. The diligent reader of the Diary will find useful
hints in practical divinity, as, for example, how ‘ to resist
the devil and maik him flye away lyk a dog with his tayle
between his legges.’9
He hoped that his Diaries would be preserved from
enemies’ hands, and sanctified for the good of God’s people,
especially of his own children for ‘ whom they ar written.’10
A somewhat similar wish is again expressed ;11 and again
he prays : ‘ O Lord, I recomend al my Diaries to Thy
preserving and blissing hand that they may som waye
be to Thy prayse. I blisse The from my heart for the
good matter I haive gotten already to wryte in them thes
21 years bygon since my exercise in this place ; and I
praye the Lord to give me als much good matter and much
mor, both of Thy influences and providences anent Thy
work, remnant and barrowman, to wryte in this and any
uther subsequent year of Thy contineuing my lyfe.’12
1 p. 277. 2 p. 239. 3 p. 169.
4 Pp. 178, 193. 6 pp. 217, 251, 279. 6 p. 184.
7 p. 72. 8 Pp. 148, 149. 9 p. 280.
10 P. 196. 11 p. 266. 19 p. 277.