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

DIARY, 1667-1639 407
my paipers with neu observances of Gods kyndnes and pro¬
vidence towards us.
This week we heare the Lord had disapoynted our adver¬
saries first plots, and wil disapoynt the second also.
This Sunday that I wryte thir threie last pages my wyfe
was unweal, the Lord releive and restore hir in Chryst.
Upon Mononday and Tuesday my wyfe contineued in a fit [/<>/. 68.]
of a fever, and that justly for then again sp. That day M. 22.
Mitchel fel seik for greif of my wyfes seaknes. We heard of
the kings receaving our suplication ^ we feared neu plots and
mides of policie as mutch as acts of violence, hot the Lord of
hosts against the on is the author of al wysdome against the
uther. We feared my L. Argyles upgoing. I got good in
privat exercises.
In the Tolbooth and out of it, in the exercise of that call¬
ing, I fand a great dulnes and absence of sprit and faintnes of
courage and perplexitie of mynd; quhyle on Frayday both I
begged his external providence and internal assistance to be 25 janu.
with me in that calling, and to advyse if I sould undertaik L.
Saltons cause and to speir if he wald assist me thairin. In
the looking upon Annas busines I fand his providence casting
up Menochius to clear me in the cheifest quaestions, quhilk
maid me, befor I looked the passages, boue my knee befor
him and beg the continuance of his providence and assistance
in that and al uther actions of my calling.
I remembred heir hou my wyfes seaknes was thought to
proceid from melancholy for the daylie decay of my stait; this
I represented to God as a great strait both to haive my estait
to melt away quhen I exspected with submission upon his
promise for the increase of it, and to losse my wyfe for the
greif of that decay; I hooped the Lord drauing it to so great
a height after his accustomed maner was haistning his dely verie,
quhairof evin in this extremitie I durst not doubt, bot told
my confidence both to my mother and the Lady Currihil.
‘ Lord, quho hes lottin me seie thyselth in every thing befell me,
hes maid me seie the verefying al thy promises thou maid me
to trust in, and quho comanded me, in despaire of sutch a
See Bishop Guthry’s Memoirs, p. 50.