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

DIARY 1637-1639
253
was by present reflecting thoughts on my present contempla¬
tion that God was myne, yea fully myne; and I was his, yea
totally his; that he was myne with al his hlissings and follouers,
and I was his with al my infirmities and burdens. Al the
night thairafter, yea evin this morning quhyl I am wryting
this doun, the stampe of yesternights impression cleaveth fast
to my saul; and my thoughts, desyres, desyres hytherto both
sleaping and walkning, ar as unsatiable, as unexpressable; the
Lord God opin my eies by a second sight to seie his favor,
aime, and end, with my use of this od seie of transporting
motions, quherby, in so inexpressable a bountiful maner and
measure, he comunicateth himselth to dust yea to sinful dust
and asches, and maiketh me forced to acknouledge his Sons
prayer to haive bein heard, and his auin promise evin heir to
be verefied in my person, in that I haive hein maid on with
him and he on with me. The Lord maiks me to apprehend
that this clear day wil haive a dark night, and this faire calme
wil haive ane foul storme; the Lord give me the right use of
this and praepaire me for thatj and let this stand for a testi-
monie against myselth of consolation in neu walknings of
mynd, and of conviction on my yeeldings to subsequent
tentations.
Upon the Wedensday morning I got good my alone and
thairafter with Anna. I told my Sundays chainge to Mr.
John Macklellan.1 On Foorsday morning both apairt in my
1 Certain ministers, who had been licensed to preach the Gospel but objected
to ordination at the hands of a bishop, went over to the North of Ireland
where they received it, and were settled in parishes. Among these were
Mr. John MacLellan, Mr. John Livingstone, and Mr. Robert Blair. The last
named describes the arrangement made for overcoming his scruples as to
Episcopal ordination, and at the same time keep it technically within the law.
‘Will you not,’ said the bishop, ‘receive ordination from Mr. Cunningham
and the adjacent brethren’ (Scottish ministers settled there) ‘and let me come
in amongst them in no other relation than a presbyter.’ ‘ This,’ said Blair, ‘ I
could not refuse and so the matter was performed. ’—Autobiography of Robert
Blair, p. 59, Wodrow Society. These Scottish ministers having been subse¬
quently deposed and excommunicated by the Irish bishops for nonconformity
returned to Scotland, where ‘ they were most instrumental in the glorious work
of reformation that followed after these corrupt tymes beginning anno 1637.’
—Row (Wodrow Society), p. 465. MacLellan became minister of Kirkcud¬
bright, of which he was a native. Blair became minister of Ayr and afterwards
of St. Andrews. For Livingstone, see note p. 262.