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

194
DIARY OF LORD WARISTON
In the Grayfrear kirk I got tears; and thair we sang 143, and
144 Ps. We read, not without a providence, the 20 c. of 2 Chron:
about Jehosophat, ‘ Lord, we knou not quhat to doe.’ Mr.
James Fairly in his sermon spak mutch against sclandering and
caluminating. Betuixt sermons I got tears. Afternoone we sang
145 and 146 most fit Ps. and we heard Mr. Androu on 11 c. of
Math: 28 v., ‘ Come al ye,’ etc. After sermon I got sundry tears.
• On Mononday morning I fel in fc.; at evening after reading my
mothers lettre, haiving my heart bursten within me and re-
membring both of the fc. and of my neglecting my forsuppers
meditations, I schouted with unutterable tears and crys, ‘ O
God, O God, thou art just, thou art just, to send me present
greifs after present faults.’
I4- On Tuesday morning, in my mothers lettre I protested befor
God never to mary another nor H. H. Ever, quhen I thought
of hir in my meditations, I was forced extraordinar heartily to
blisse God fore setling my affections on sutch ane object as I
kneu not the lyk eyther for his fear or my contentment; and
so I was forced to acknoledge that he restored to me that
quhairof the losse (to wit of ane good woman) did most greive
me in my adversitie; so, praysing him for hearing my prayer
in the greatest and sensiblest poynt thairof, I prayed him to
hear me in the rest as that of freinds consent and strangers
Voue. applause, for the quhilk schoe and I voued both to prayse
him togither on our knees for it after our mariage.
\_foi. 99.] On Sunday morning haiving read Sathans stratagems in
19 Ja- Dounams wearfarre,1 and therby haiving reflected my thoughts
on my auin corruptions, quhilk I finding so perverse, wicked,
and abhominable as to be capable of, yea to be inclyned unto, the
grossest, heinousest sinnes that ever was comitted or committ-
able be any, I greu weary of my lyfe, cryed to the Lord to preveine
hisdishonor, the Gospels scandale, the aggravation of my condem¬
nation, by ane tymous death; yea the sight of this body of death,
quhilk is ever likly to budde furth if it be not reneued inwardly
or at the least restrayned outwardly, pinched and gnaued me
so sore as to mak me in som sort to repent of that repentance
1 The Christian Warfare, 4 parts, London, 1609-1618, by John Downham
or Downame, Rector of All Hallows the Great, Thames Street. He was one of
the petitioners to the Privy Council against Laud’s book of Canons.