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

MEMENTO QUAMDIU VIVAS
205
plying of my necessities, wants, and desyrs especialy in my
mariage ; and, calling heir by I waite not quhat sueat attractive
pouer of mercie from God for this blood, I fand my conscience
mutch pacifyed and my heart inseparably glued to the blood
of Chryst. On this weak follouing I begoud to tak my
medecine; as also the Lady Currihil went away.
On Sunday morning it pleased God wonderfully, by I wayte 3° Mar.
not quhat inspirations, to beginne and contineu my meditations,
1. on the greatnes of Gods love in decreing rayther to crucifie
his only begottin wealbeloved nor to suffer man justly for to
perisch; 2. on the greatnes of mans sinne in despy sing this love,
and contemning the means of salvation quhilk had cost the Lord
of glory his auin heart blood; 3. on the fury of Gods indigna¬
tion qukilk could not bot kendle in the breast of his justice
against the contemners of so unspeakable mercies; 4. the
infinite ritches of Gods uncomprehensible goodnes and kynd-
nes in passing by this contempt, quenching his anger and
drauing, nil they wald they, som of thir contemners out of
hell unto heaven; for in the day of our vocation al Gods
children ar found in the lyk masse of adhominable corruptions
of nature, and contempt of grace and the means of salvation.
Heart of man cannot conceive hou wonderful most that love be
quhilk passeth by in a worme so great a contempt of so great a
love as God scheu in the redemption of man ; 5. the unutter¬
able, unchangeable, tenderheartednes of God in pardoning al
the bakslydings of his children ; and, notwithstanding of thair
neu contempt of his love in thair vocation, pardoning thair
contempt of his love in thair election and redemption, yet in
conteaning them in the wayes of godlines by the allurments
of his mercies and from the wayes of sinne by the aubands of
crosses and judgements. Tounge of angel cannot expresse the
pains, the means both faire and foule, quhilk God useth to saive
on poore saule evin in this lyfe. Al thir thoughts God wonder¬
fully assisted, particularly in my application experimental of
them to myselth in prayer; many, many tears got I heir. For- \_fol. 106.\
anoone I heard Mr. Andreu R. on 12 c. 20 v. of Math: ‘A
bruised reed wil he not break,’ etc. After sermon I was mooved
and assisted in repetition of it, especialy quhyle I considered
the strenth, pouer, malice of my corruptions and the weaknes,