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

DIARY, 1637-1639
403
by Gods assistance, as lykwayes anent the articles; in the
Assemblee I scheu al the warrants and read the verry acts
themselves out of the registers and aunsuered al objections;
and quhairas, both in the morning we heard of some wald
publikly disput for Episcopacie and many scores came to the
house resolut to voyte for it, yet the Lord maid the Acts so to
convince thair mynds that every mans mouth acknouledgit
that they had bein abjured and removed; and, quhen I was
reading the roll and heard no word hot ‘Abjured and
Removed,’ I was struken with admiration, and yit my thoughts
fails to aprehend that great and wonderful work of God, and
yit my ears sounds ever with thes words (Abjured and Re¬
moved) Abjured and Removed. Siklyk it was als wonderful,
in sik a diversitie of jugements and contrarietie of practises,
thair was so great a unitie of abjuring and removing.
About this tyme, looking on the imperfytnes of our minuts,
I both thought sik schame and took sik thought that I almost
fainted for very greif and anger; bot, in my extremitie, by
Gods providence I was spokin to anent Sandie Nisbet, quhos
coming to me I hoope evin heirby that neyther he nor I
schal reu.
To sie Gods providence maiking the ministers of Edr. be
thair auin declinator to cast themselves out of that toune,
and to seie the Lord assisting and directing me hou to guyde
Mr. Air. Hendersons transplantation so as it was doone:
blissed be the naime of God, quho had poynted him out as the
man he called to that publik place, and quhos transplantation
or not I took as ane prognostication of the durablenes or not
of this work of God in that citie of Edr. as in this land.
Heir again the Lords gracious goodnes to me, after re¬
moving al impediments out of the way, by the Assemblees
unanimous choysing me to be advocat for the Kirk, ane
honorable bot also ane onerable chairge. Lord, maik me
thankful and fruitful.
Heir again after great fears, rumors, and apearances of
division anent reuling elders, the Lord directed us to restore
them to thair rights and liberties as they wer in the Book of
Policie; as also after our resolution, out of fear, not to medle
with civil offices at this tyme, the Lord draive us to the