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

308
DIARY OF LORD WARISTON
was heir himselth, seing by the sight of it advantages was
hot taiken and reveiled to the ennemie. I prayed the Lord
to contineu his assistance with me anent the Hie Commission
as I had found it hithertils, for the quhilk I praysed the Lord
and acknouledged his hearing of my former prayer in that
particular.
Upon Wedensday, I fand the Lords assistance and providence
25- in my studie in the Hie Commission. Upon Foorsday, haiving
endit my ansuear to the fyft objection I was forced, by seing it
driven out to mor nor foor through of paiper quhairas at the
entree I could not setledly dyte foor lynes, to acknouledge
that the Lord, contrair to my fears, according to my prayer,
had assisted me straingly and strongly in it; and thairfor to
prayse him immediatly for it; and, as in the beginning I
begoud it with ane In nomine Domini mei, so to end it in
the same, and that within the 8 dayes as the Prerogative of
befoir.
Jan. Upon Frayday morning, beginning to resolve to enter in
the main battel, and being dasched that thou had bein so
long a beginning, and hearing that Mr. T. Nicolson had bein
verry busie about it, and fearing thou sould not haive tyme,
and finding thy utter inabilitie, thou waist not quhat to doe,
quhat to read, studie, or think about Edr.; bot evin casting
thyselth on the armes of God, remembring his former call,
thy present recent experience of his assistance for the quhilk
thou was forced to prayse him, and reading his promise 12 c.
Luik 11 v. thou cryed for his particular strenth, grace, gift,
wisdome, providence, assistance, nou in the main poynt eyther
of thy auin tryel if he call the to it, or in thy defence of the
poore people of Edr., thou resolved to wryte al thy thoughts
as they cam in thy heed doune in paiper, and to studie som
laues upon sik sort of subjects, as rebellion, sedition, tumult,
convocation. O Lord, I ken thou canst cast, be thy provid¬
ence, in my laps sik book, sick passage, sick defences thairin;
thou canst cast in my mynd sick thoughts, reasons, grounds,
considerations as may tend to thy glory and thy poor peoples
wealfaire; suffer me to tell the, O Lord, I am ane chyld
unworthy, unaible altogither, thou haist called; its thy auin
work, worschip, churche in danger, thy honor or dishonor is