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the Mr. of Forbes. I desir first to give her to God, and then to him, and to that famili for and in the Lord: that His anger against me may not be drawn out against the child and against her apparent husband and that famili. . . Lord! shall I call Mr. Wm. Falconar to com heir or not? Teach me and lead me, sway my will, spirit, inclination, judgment, conscienc, and all that's

in me.

My grandchild, An, was maried with the Mr. of Forbes. . . . Mr. Wil. Falconer supd with us and prayd in the familie. Mr. James Urquhart was not with us.

3.- Next day Mr. James Urquhart cam heir, and performd the famili exercis, but went away at night. Mr. Alr Dumbar staid with us, and exercisd at night. I had no delight nor pleasur in ani thing.

7.-Mr. Hugh Anderson was with me. He said, in the Lord's name, that it should be weil with me, and that I should hav peac. Lord! mak good what he said in Thy name.

11.—Mr. James Urquhart spok on Micha. 7, 18, 19, 20, and held out the offer of grace to us, and invited us to com into His covenant and to tak on with Him. On this occasion I did speak to Ann, Cathr., and Elz., my poor grandchildren, and askd if they wer content to enter in covenant with Him, and they consented, and gav themselves to the Lord to be His for ever, and accepted the Lord to be ther God, and tuk on His bands.

20.-Grant cam doun to sie me. Leathin, and Burgi, and Grang, cam about ther effairs. But I had noe pleasur in ani effairs. I heard of the good E. of Southerland's death, and of a palsie, and in few days. 1. I desir to observ this his diseas is that sam that myn is. . . . This day Wm. Brodie took journey to Edinburgh, and I writ with him to my Brother a kind of farwell.

22.-Kilraok and Mr. Hugh Anderson cam heir this night; and Mr. Hugh staid, and worshipd with me in the morning.

Novr. 5-Tho. Gordon cam heir: spok of the contribution. He said, Mr. Jhon Heburn was displeasd with Milton, that he did not let al com in that lykd to hear him.

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7.—Mr. James Urquhart cam heir, and past the day with us.

Dunbar, as appears from numerous entries in the Diary, both before and after this, "exercised" frequently in Brodie's

house, during his last illness, and to his death, on the week days as well as on the Sabbath.

12. Mr. J. Steuart cam heir, and asisted. Yong Coubin and Ja Kinard, wer heir al night. Mr. Jhon Steuart gav me advic anent fixing the mind on meditation.

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13.-Don. Campbell cam to me err I had bein about the worship, and distracted me. Mr. Jhon Steuart prayd after we read.

14. Mr. Jhon Steuart went away hom. He promisd to speak Mr. D[uncan] Forbes, and to set som tym apart to hold my cace up to God. Brey cam heir efternoon, and I was helpd by him a litl.

20.-Jhon Grant took a kind of a pluresie by one in the morning. He was bled, and som thing recoverd.

Decr. 19.-I heard that the counsel of Scotland had sent thanks to the King for sending the D. of York to them. My hart was cast doun under this. . . . Lord! piti such a land, that has such rulers, and over rul al thes abominations, and ther pronness to evel.

23.-Under sens of my unbelief and weaknes, I gav up my soul, spirit, bodie, gifts, parts, injoyments, estat, land, money, famili, children, and al that's deir to me, even my will and choic to be thyn onli.

24. My soul was in great distres and heavines. I wryt my cace to Mr. James Urquhart. Brey [Bray] was cald, but cam not to me. I was readi to faint altogether. I told my cace to my son, and to Mr. Alr. [Dunbar], but I found noe rest, nor eas, nor light, nor comfort.

26. I was in great distres of spirit and mind, under the sens of the Lord's anger, and hiding of His face and departur.

28. Die Dom. I look up for merci, and for piti, and forgivenes, of all my sins for 60 years past; that He would put al right that's out of ordour. 30.--The Lord gav som liberti in the famili prayer, morning; but alace! no ansuer, no light, no sens of his lov, no faith, no joy.

Wm. Dr. [Dunbar] of Durn was heir this night. of Mr. Staton, minister of Banff, and was affected at was overspreading with poperi and sin of everi kind. yong woman cam to the hous and ing

this one sin.

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heard of the death

it.

That that countree

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. There was a blind

a

ow to God's prevent

a; and therfor shal I bless him. Mani evels wer complicated in

a Short-hand in MS.

1 Januari, 1680.-I thoght I fond som faltering in my speech again. I goe to God with it. How does the year draw to an end! Help me to reflect on this year, and the Lord's providence in it.

3.--I heard that the prisoners wer shipwreckd at Orkney, and most of them drownd, and som land safe. Lord! instruct me by this providenc, and grant me to tak it up and lament it aright. I heard Bishop Murdoch was kindli to them. I heard of the death of the tutour of Duffus.

4.-Birdsyards cam heir, and was much troubl'd in spirit, and felt distance and sin, fears in the night, and decay in his memorie, indisposition to buisines, and great weight and burthen on his soul.

8. Spini visited me. Grant and Leathin cam.

29.--I could not sie to wryt from the 9 to the 29 of Januari. I reuerenc His prouidene and His hand upon me. . . . I had great apprehension of the snars and dangers approaching by the new model of the standing armie, and debated in my own mind quhether I should denud myself of the estat to -, or to ani other, that might free me of the troubl and sin and snars of the tym, and affoord me any liulihood and my poor famili. I professed myself willing, if He cald me to it and gav strenth, to sell all and follow Him. But I must see His call and warrand. . . . I feard the E of Murray his power, greatnes, ill will at me and myn, and his injustice and

couetousnes.

30.-Mr. Tho. Hogg cam heir from Edr., to sie me. My burthens, darknes, bands, confusion, troubl, continud; soe that I could not look up. Mr. Th. scrnpld to preach to them that heard the conform ministers. . . . As to Mr Th. Hog's cariag and exercis, Lord! direct him and us anent it in a way that He approvs off.

10 Febr-Mr. Th. Hogg went west to visit his freinds.

22.-Die Dom. Mr. T. Hogg spok at 2 and at 6 efternoon, and supplied the famili exercis.

March 8.-Mr. Th.

Hogg cam heir and Mr. Jhon M'Culican. I was helpd by Mr. Thomas. The Lord requit him.

12-Mr. Th. spok comfortabli to my soul, and said he was persuaded

a Murdoch Mackenzie, Bishop of Orkney.

C Short-hand in MS.

b

See

p. 303, note.

that the Lord would com in due tym, and grant a merciful outgate of my troubl.

15.-My good daughter purposd to goe to Castel Forbes and sie her daughter. Lord! direct and ordour ther journey. . . This night I had ill rest, and was exercisd with troubl within and without. Mr. T. Hogg did contribut for my comfort.

18.-Mr. Th. Hogg staid with me, and was comfortabl to me.

23. This night my good daughter cam hom from Castel Forbes. I aknowledg the Lord in her saf return, and giv him thanks. Grang cam heir and Leathin.

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26 -Dr. Gordoun cam heir, but he could afford me noe help. I heard that the E. of M. did what he lykd in courts, judicatours, and public effaires.

27. I ros earli to read Ps. 31.

28. Die Dom. I read a part of the 31 Ps. in the hous, and prayd with the famili. Mr. Alt. [Dunbar] spok on Ps. 130. . . . Mr. Thomas spok at night on Is. 35.

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29.-I heard of Spini his bitter expressions against Mr. T. Hogg. went out on hors back a litl, but was more distemperd, wearied, and indispos'd, quhen I cam in, and this night slept ill and unsound.

3 April. This day I took a fitt of the gravell, and passed som small stons. The pain increasd throgh the stoping of the water, soe that neither this day nor the next till 3 efternoon I had no passag, but remaind in great pain and torment. I cried, and was shaken in my mind with doubts, mischief, blasphemies, impatience, fainting, wearying, repining. I mourn'd secretli under all thes spiritual infirmities, distempers, disorder of my hart; and cried to God, and said, “Thou art my God, and my hop is in Thee"; and "Thou hast made me to trust in Thee from the womb."

7.-This night was past in much unquietnes. I acknowledg the Lord in it. Quhen He hids His face who can give peace? Mr. James Urquhart, and Petgauni, and Durn, wer heir al night.

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My good daughter was

9.-I had unsound disturb'd sleep this night. cal'd to Elgin, to Orkney's wyf in troubl. . . . I past the day with much infirmiti, and could descern no sign or token of light.

10-Don. Campbell cam to sie me. I heard from him several things that wer said anent the tyms.

11. Die Dom. I read Job. 13. 23. . . . I spok and worshiped in the famili, morning. . . . Mr. Al Dumbar spok before supper on Eph. 5. 14. Great was the distemper of my spirit, and the mani diseases and distempers of my bodie. . . . I went to bed heavi with sleep, yet I got no rest. Spini cam and visited me in the efternoon betwix the exercises. My Son went east to meit the Earl of Murray.

13.-The Ladi Main cam heir this night. I had noe delight in ani compani. The Lord did afford som tolerabl rest; but I sie all that concerns me in His hand from moment to moment. I desird to be humbl'd under my sor wearying of troubls, and the Lord's hand; and wearying of tym, and even almost of lyf; albeit I condemn my self for this impatienci and feeblnes. I cried to God for grace to spend, pass over, and use tym aright, for I know not how to pass it: infirmities of spirit, mind, and bodi ar sor maiters.

14. Mr. Ja. Urquhart went from me, quhairat I was much troubl'd, because he was a mouth to God for me quhen I could not pray myself. Darknes and confusion remaind, and heavines, distress, fear, and troubl: we prayd, but could discern noe ansuer. Mr. Ja. Brodi and his wyf wer heir. I causd read Job 14. 14. "What is man that he should be clean, or he that is born of a woman that he should be righteous? Behold He puts no trust in His saints, yea the heavens ar not clean in His sight; how much mor abominable is man which drinketh iniquiti as water ?" I desird to be rightli exercisd on this word, and that the Lord would remov whatever hinders right convictions and sight of sin. Onli show it in merci, but do not enter into judgment with me for it. I find much desertion and bands. in my approaching to God.

15.-Dr. Gordon was with me. My darkues has not taken an end, nor my confusions and heavines. I was detaind from the secret worship by the Dr.'s compani: this was a burthen. Main and his wyf wer also with me. Quhen wilt Thou return, and quhen shall Thyn anger be turnd away, and when will merci find a way to overtak a poor rebell?

16.--I heard read Job 15. 20. "The wicked man travels with pain all his days, and the number of years is hid to the oppressour."

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