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

DIARY, 1637-1639
339
turned home with ane earnest desyre by Gods assistance to
cleare Mr. G. Gelaspies doubts. After ane earnest invoca-
tione of Gods naime for his assistance in that act as I had
found in som former passages of this busines, for the advance¬
ment of his auin glory, the further libertie of his churche
and incouragment of his auin servants, I fell to it; and,
haiving many interrupted walks and petitions, I contineued
thinking and wryting til sevin hours that I ended it; for
the quhilk I praysed God, both that he had keiped me in this
toune by1 my wil be his providence, and nou had assisted me in
the performance of it, quhilk for apearance had not bein so
weal doone if I had gone to landwert, and written it over in a
sudaintie, whyle nou I may revise it on Mononday; and quho
wayts bot the Lord intends to doe good by it, and to force me
to prayse him for this passage, as for any other of befor ? The
Lord doe it for his auin glory saik through Chryst my Saviour,
amen.
On Sunday I went out with my Lo. Balmerino to Craumont,
quhair I heard Mr. Will. Colin preatch verry weal ane thanks¬
giving sermon on 12 ch. 1 and 2 v. of the Hebreues.
On Mononday I went out to Granton, conferred long with
my Lord Advocat, quho aproved your thoughts anent ministers
admission. Aftemoone ye spend in conference, exhortations,
and prayer with my Lady Craighal and ane young woman
thair quho, wakned in hir mynd, cannot apply to hirselth the
promises. For warrand of hir application thou pressed on hir
the praeface, and the first command, the Beleif, the Lords
Prayer, the general command in the Gospel, the particular for
beleif in the Epistle of Jhon, the neu covenant, both the sacra¬
ments, the saints experience, the devils delusion, the ordor of
Gods working by fayth as the mother of al uther graces, as
misbeleif is of al vices. I had my sprit, conception, and ex¬
pression verry ready, present, and sensible. At night I got
good of Gods exercising me in that double exercise at on tyme l? APryIe-
of dealing with ane wakned conscience, and of studying the Menuhe^
main libertie of Gods churche. presbyteries
admission of
On Tuesday, 17 Apryle, I wryte over tuo treatises,—the on ministers.
1 Against.