Series 1 > Diary of Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston 1632-1639

INTRODUCTION
xix
in use in the churches and read by himself was the Authorised
or King James’s Version.
The life he was leading and the spiritual excitement under
which he was labouring had been giving his relatives much
concern. He notes that Sir Lewis Stewart took him to
task for his retired course of life,1 and his kinsman Baillie
and his brother-in-law Burnet both exhorted him on the
same day, possibly in concert, to come to a decision as to
his profession.2 Up to the time of his wife’s death he had
meant to become a member of the Scottish Bar, but he was
now hesitating between that and the Church. He prayed
much for the Divine direction. He read Perkins’s Treatise of
Callings, and spent an afternoon in trying by its rules which of
the two professions he should adopt. While he honoured the
ministerial profession more than that of law, he felt that the
bent of his mind was more suited for the law, and that his
gifts were dialectic rather than didactical, better fitted £ for
disputing pro and contra nor for teatching solid grounds.’ His
invention, judgment, and memory were, in the judgment of
all, especially of Mr. Archibald Scaldee in whom he seems
to have had great confidence, unfitted for handling the deep
mysteries of divinity. Moreover he felt that his mind could
not be ever bent on religious exercises, and that he could not
take on himself the burden of more souls than his own.3 He
had £ ane evil scraiped tongue,’ and so would have no utter¬
ance at all in preaching; he was utterly incapable of catechising,
the main work of the ministry, in respect of his ‘natural
haistines, kankerdnes and impatience.’ His studies in the
past had been with a view to the legal profession, and he
remembered the command of the Apostle to remain in the
calling wherein he was called. On all these grounds, he
decided for the Bar. Having desired God to direct him in
the choice of his £ speech,’ he was £ presently brought in mind ’
1 P. 128.
3 P- i35-