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

302
DIARY OF LORD WARISTON
the contrary, albeit we wer al dead men, we sould defend
Jerusalem and ruyne Babel; bot, housoever, the Lord might as
weal, in justice upon my impaenitence, coldreifnes, spritual
deadnes, not suffer the work of the Lord to prosper in my
hands notwithstanding of his promises, quhilk ar ever with
condition of my turning to him and byding with him, as in his
mercie he spaired Ninivie notwithstanding of his threatning,
quhilk did include the condition of thair impaenitencie. Bot I
hoope the best that the Lord wil blisse his work in my hand;
and blisse me and myne for his work saik (if this (as is lyklie)
be the tyme and the occasion of his promise), for the quhilk on
day he wil force the magnifie his naime. That sam night I got
on letter and wryte ane ansuer to the Erie of Rothes.
18. Upon Foorsday morning I read the passages in 10 of Math.,
13 Mark, 12 c. of Luik anent Chrysts promise to teatch his
auin quhat to speak in judgment, and Marlorat, Junius,
Cartwright, Feild1 on it. I read sundry things in lau, and
prayed the Lord to assist me in setling of my thoughts about
the Hie Commission, quhairof seing I am going nou to wryte
I begge to seek his assistance, quhilk I said wald be the mor
sensible, the mor ignorant and unsolid I find myselth in the
entree, and the litle better of my pains in looking over sum
book's of lau. Lord, let me find the sprit of my calling in this
particular; that thairfor, contrar to my present fears, I may
haive reason to prayse the, O the Lord of my strenth, quho
can maik my feet to leape over ane wall, my hands to break
ane bou of brasse, and my understanding to seie clearly
through al difficulties.
\fol. 25.] This prayer I reiterat again the mor earnestly upon
Frayday morning becaus I had found my mynd schifting and
delaying to wryte about the Hie Commission, and also a
1 Augustin Marlorat, translator of A Catkolike Exposition of the Holy
Gospell after St. John, 15 83 ; and of Expositions of the 2 last Epistles of Jho.
1578, etc.
Junius may be Francis Junius, Professor of Divinity at Leyden, author of
Opera Theologica, published in two folio volumes at Geneva in 1607.
Thomas Cartwright, author of A Commentary upon the Epistle to the
Colossians, 1612.
Field, probably John Field, translator of L'Espine; Excellent treatise of
Christian Righteousness, 1578.