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

DIARY, 1637-1639
319
Laudin; then befor the whol noblemen; and thairafter befor
the whol barones, I refuted from many absurdities, and my
opinion was universally applauded to and imbraced both
be the nobilitie and gentrie. Before desner the insupportable
burden of drauing up the Band, quherby al sould be linked
together after subscryving of the Confession of Fayth,1 was
laid upon my weak schoulders, so that afternoone, after
manifold thanks for quhat grounds he had put in my mynd
foranoone, and for thair happie succes, I prayed on my knees
earnestly the Lord to assist, direct, infuse, and guide immedi-
atly by his Sprit my heart, hand, tounge, and pen in the
framing and forming thairof in that maner quhilk might tend
most to his glorie, this churches wealfaire, the standing of our
religion, laues, liberties, and comonwealth, our stricter union
with him and amongst our selves, the greater opposition to
idolatrie and al uther innovations, the instruction of posteritie
and my auin salvation through Chryst Jesus, in cujus nomine
incvpio. Whyles I was praying God for assistance and direc- \foi. 28.]
tion at home, the Lord brought to my mynd to urge this
motion to the nobilitie, that seing they wer resolving to reneu
the covenant of this land with God againe, that they wald
first acknouledge, with ane great humiliation, the former
breatches thairof committed be this whol nation and every
member thairof; and to that end that Mr. D. Dick might
help Mr. Hery Rollok; Mr. Al. Henrison and Mr. R. Douglas
might help Mr. And. Ramsey on Sunday nixt; and so al quho
intend it to reneu the covenant with the Lord might this
Sabboth humble themselves in the presence of God with
fasting and prayer. This motion was accepted and presently
injoyned. Thairafter Mr. Alr Henderson, haiving sayd a pithie
schort prayer for Gods direction, and I fell to the Band?
quhairof we scrolled the narrative.2
1 The noblemen, observing that the great object of the king and the bishops
was to introduce divisions among them and their friends, and so break up the
unity, resolved upon the renewal of the old Covenant of 1580, with such addi¬
tions ‘ as the change of tymes and the present occasione required.’ Alexander
Henderson and Wariston were appointed to draw it up.—Rothes, p. 71.
2 See the third head or division of the Covenant, which narrates the facts and
circumstances which induced the signatories to make the declarations and take
the oaths therein expressed.