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

104
DIARY OF LORD WARISTON
On Frayday morning, I voued unto the Lord that, if he wald
totally and finally delyver me from al my troubles, greifs, fears,
and perplexites, I sould ever blisse him for it, and in taken of
my thanksgiving turne al the Psalmes in prayses as I haive
turned them unto prayers during my affliction. Theirafter I
prayed unto the Lord humbly and instantly becaus I was
miserable and he pouerful for to delyver; as also confidently,
my confidence being grounded upon Gods threefold promise
and my threefold experience, Gods promise first be his prophet,
145 Ps. 18 v., ‘The Lord is nigh unto al them that cal upon
him. He wil fulfil the desyre of them that hear him; he
also wil hear thair cry and wil saive them ’; the second promise
being out of the mouth of Chryst quho is verite itselth, 11 c.
Luik 9 v., ‘ And 11 (quho cannot lie) ‘ say unto you, Ask, and it
schal be given you ; seak, and ye schal find ; knok, and it schal
be opened to you. For every on that asketh receaveth ; and
he that seaketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it schal be
opened,’ and so furth until the 14 v.; the thrid promise being
from the apostle to the Philip: 4 c. 6 v., ‘ Be cairful for nothing;
bot in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiv¬
ing let your requeast be maid knoune unto God. And the peace
of God, which passeth al understanding, schal keape your hearts
and mynds through Chryst Jesus.’ My first experience of Gods
hearing my prayers and fulfilling his promises being in my 16
year of age quhyle I was ane Latiner; my second experience
being immediatly after my voyage unto France, quhyle I cryed
for ane protection to my voyage, and direction to my studyes,
and ane saif retour; the thrid was immediatly befor my
manage in his delyvring me from tentations, and blissing me
so extraordinarly in my manage. After this I wryte ane
exceading comfortable letter unto my mother, and then I
heard Mr. David Mitchel, 4 Philip 14 v., ‘ Notwithstanding yee
haive weal doone, that ye did comunicate with my affliction.’
Quheron he urged that we sould mourne with thos that
mourneth, to the end we might rejoyce with them.
[>/. 55.'] At Frayday afternoone according to my ordinar custome
(having read Bifields first three rules)1 I confessed particularly
1 The marrow of the Oracles of God, or diverse treatises about six of the
■weightiest things can concern a Christian in this life, by N. Bifield, late Preacher