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

120
DIARY OF LORD WARISTON
therfor, O Lord, I pray the turne me mor and mor unto the in
repentance, fayth, love, and neu obedience ; and also turne thou
unto me, avert thy frouning, and convert thy schyning, loving
countenance unto me; mak me to live and dye as thy chyld
and caive thou the Constance, uncomparable tendernes of thy
faytherly affection in forgiving my imperfections, uphalding
me in my tentations, directing me in my confusions, com¬
forting me in my afflictions, and especially in inaibling me to
glorifie the, aedifie thy sants my freinds, and work out my auin
salvation through Jesus Chryst to quhom with the and the
Sp[rit be glory for ever].’
\foi. 62.] Thairafter, al Saturday I read on Bifield schauing quhat a
2 vol. x. man most doe for to be saived ; and hou to attaine unto fayth,
repentance, love, and al uther graces. At my bak coming from
Restalrig, as I ended that treatise, I got word that the
comunion was to be given in Liberton on the morrou, quher-
upon I, being in ane doubt quhither to goe or no seing I was
not at the praeparation sermon, by Gods special providence the
sermon quhilk it fell me to read in Dod (for I use to read ever
on befor going to the comunion) was his foort sermon on
2 Chron: 30 c. 19 v., ‘ Bot Hezekiah prayed for them, saying.
The good Lord pardoune every on thatprsepaireth his heart to
seak God, the Lord God of his faythers, though he be not
cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And
the Lord hearkned to Hezekiah, and healed the people.’
Quhilk text and sermon maid me fully to resolve for to goe;
voue. and, beginning to praepaire myselth, I voued unto God that if
nou he wald melt my heart in tears, not only I would prayse
him for it bot evin, in despyte of al the devilisch persuasions
or the contrariete of al wordlie apearances, I would receave ane
soft heart as ane infallible forruner of ane blissing. I had no
sooner risen of my knees and ended my voue, nor the Lord, out
of his admirable, indulgent pitie of my weaknes, softned my
heart wonderfully, evin making me presently seie his indulgence
in granting my requeast and urging me ever for to remember
voue. my voue and for to trust in him. Then I voued againe, Seing
he had bein so indulgent unto the present weaknes of his
servant, that, not only for my voue- bot also for his tender
kyndnes, I wald ever trust in him. After many tears, prayers,