the familie, the bell rang in at the window which was accompanying John Willand's corps. This I desir'd to remark, and made some use of it in the exercyse. b That sam day that he was buried, Mr. Heri Forbes was nominated Minister in Auldearn.a I observed the Lord's wisdom. 1. He humbl'd me and others micle by the fear we had of Moynes his opposition, for he had been counseld to protest. 2. The Lord's kindnes in confounding ther counsel, and carying on the nomination so farr with consent that non contradicted it, albeit som wer non-liquets. 17. I heard that Marie Douglas had contracted herself with Maxwel. I saw frailtie in it, and how destitut of wisdom when the Lord withdraws. 18. We kept the Presbytrie anent the cal to Mr. H. Forbes. They agreed on it in the end unanimouslie in the Presbyterie. I bow'd doun and worshiped the Lord, whoes hand I had found hitherto. The differ anent nomination and election of him to be ther minister was soe convoyed in the letter that it was not fallen upon, but avoided . . . We spoke a word off the Proclamation anent taking up ther stipends who had prayd for the King, and that heritours should repay it again. This I was dark in. . . . We saw much loosnes and profanitie abounding in evri congregation, drunkennes, adulterie, whordom, lying, ignorance, and contempt of God. Shall not the land mourn for this! с 19.-The Lard of Park cam to me, and spent this afternoon with me, to my great refreshment. He made som acknowledgment of his soul's condition, and pray'd. I heard what the Lord was doing to his sister and familie, and from my soul did bless the Lord for what I saw him about in that place. I did stirr up and exhort, as the Lord gave utterance, and he resolved to engadg and give up himself wholli to the Lord, both soul and bodie, and to bind himself to be the Lords, to his last breath. Oh! that the Lord may accept, and seal his acceptanc on the soul of his poor creatur. Anent those Ministers that prayed for the King-1. I found it my dutie and thers not to enquir what was safest and how to eschew danger, Mr. Harry Forbes, minister of Wick, was translated to Auldern, in October, 1655, and as successor to Mr. John Brodie. He demitted his charge rather than conform to Episcopacy, in 1863. (Shaw's History of Moray, p. 352.) b John Dunbar of Moynes. John Hay of Park, was served heir of David Hay of Lochloy, his father, January, 1640, and was succeeded by his son, John Hay of Lochloy, in January, 1679. but what was most acceptable to God and incumbent. 2. Confession of the sins of rulers that wer past, for which we suffer yet. 20.-I found the stirring of corruption and self, and desird to be exercised deeplie with it. . . . Moses great, and yet mild and humble: seldom does grace and greatnes meet. Oh to be humble and mild, and yet great! This is rare. I did tear my own band of 6000 marks. 22. Die Dom. This day ther mitted members into the Church. wer 6 or 8 children baptized, and adYoung Coubin his son Alexander, was one of the children. My hart fail'd in commending them to God, that by them, as his Church visible, soe the invisible might be augmented and made up. At my return, I spoke to , and especialli laid forth to him his guilt and danger, throgh All the dulness, hardnes, and barfacednes, and relapses into the sam sins, was not so ill, and so deadlie as this one sin. b 23.—We had a Presbytrie at Dyk, anent advizing if they should pray for the King. I was readie to have spoken as the Lord should asist; but it was thoght meet to transmit it to a conjunct meeting with Elgin Presbyterie; and efter I had pointed at some cacs [cases] I acquiesed, and reverencd the Lord's wisdom. с Josiah Campbell and Ladi Leathin wer heer this night. He told me that the Counsel was chang'd. I reaceaved letters from Edinburgh quherin Sir Jhon Cheisli did sweitli warn me to tak heid of snares in that Holland business, lest the dregs of it should involue me in new snares. 2. That I should be much with God for counsel and direction. 24.-Cornet Fox pray'd that night in our chamber. I heard he was a preaching Independent and licensd. Oh Lord, guide me that I stumble not! I heard of the death of the Duke of Richmond,d and desird to remark it as a special providenc and work of God in removing the greatest person that was descended of the Royal familie. a Thomas Kinnaird of Coubin or Culbin. He was served heir of his father, Walter Kinnaird, in August, 1677. He, and his son Alexander, were alive in 1685, as appears from their having then been examined by a Committee of the Privy Council in reference to the Fiery Cross which was carried through the shire of Moray in 1679. See Account of the Family of Culbin, Shaw's b Short-hand in MS. Sir John Chiesly of Carswell, who was knighted by Charles the First. d James, fourth Duke of Lennox, and first Duke of Richmond, died at London, 30th March, 1655. 28. . The poor woman Cathrin was with me this efternoon. Shee spok and pray'd, and I catechiz'd and pray'd with her. 1 May, 1655.—Oh Lord! be thou my witnes and my help, that this day I have mad it my earnest, humble, sincer request and prayer, that thou would guard ine against that sin, specialli off covetousnes, and desir of riches; that thou would grant a moderat, sober, contented mind, and a right use of what thou gives; that I may die to the world, and have unholie desires mortified. Now, Oh Lord! put me not back: thes desires and thoghts will break in upon me even lyk water, and overwhelm. I spok this afternoon to [my Son]. I examined aand askd him whither would he choos to have his hart torn out at his syd, or be separated from God, and sin willingli against him. He said, it wer better to indur the pulling out of his hart. I desird him to examin if that was the ansuer of his hart, or the tong onli, and advisd him to compar that ansuer with his conversation, and see how they agreed. I warnd him that iff he would not serv the Lord, God would cast him out of this place that we dwelt in. I had seen men flourish lyk a green tree, and loe! I looked, and in a moment the place could not be seen where they wer. "All they that forsak him shall perish." I assurd him, in the nam of the Lord, ther wer mani sad afflictions befor him. His corruption would draw sor stroks from God sometym or other, unless he purposd to destroy him; therfor exhorts him to meet the Lord and repent. 2.-I heard from Edinburgh that the factour would presentli discuss the suspension, and that I must prepar to pay it. This I desired to lay mor on God, that I may be guided in the use of ani lawful means of safetie, or in patienc and clearnes to suffer. 6.-Die Dom. Riches puff up, and poverti keeps us mor low and sober. I did read Judges 10th betwix sermons. Oh! my hart was much distempered in the evening secret prayer with mani vain thoghts. My head had mani imaginations working stronglie, which disturbed my spirit in the exercyse. I never found the actual working of sinful imaginations mor stronglie then at this tyme, and desird to be humbld under it. I wonderd not to see the men of the world taken • Short-hand in MS., but the passage evidently refers to his son James. away with projects, covetous, ambitious, vain, carnal desizgnes, affections, and enterprizes; for no hart nor head is mor ful of them [than mine]. Oh Lord prevent! I soght understanding and grace to discern, and how to resist them when they did arys: to handl thes motions roghlie. Whylst my head is thus, alac! my hart cannot be right nor framd to ani spiritual exercyse, anent things that I am afraid and asham'd to express or utter; but they ar not hid from thee. Oh! keep from thes unsober, distemperd, madd, unrulie thoghts. I wonder not to see people crack-braind and besid themselves. Passion, lust, inordinat affection, would soon put me out of my witt. When I am from thee, and without thy fear, following ani thing that's right in my eyes, then am I quitt out of my witt. For thou art my witt and wisdom, love, delight, joy, happines, alsufficiencie, hous, welth, children, freindship, credit in the world, and my all in al. Then doe not forsak, nor let me forsak thee. Let noe idol or fancie creep in, or be intertained, lodgd, or embracd. Non but Christ, and his word and law to lie betwix my brests; to be wryten on my forhead; to cal, command, and guid my spirit, will, and inclinations. Even so be it, oh Lord! so be it to me! 8.—I was cald to goe meet with the Erl of M[urray] his freinds at Spyni this day; when the Lord was with us and with me in particular. He prosperd matters in our hand. Nic. Dumbar wryt a bitter insolent letter to me. I desird to be kept from anger or reveng, and that I might not be sufferd to doe him, or his, hurt; for I had noe mind to injur him. I did accordinglie return ansuer to him. 10. I was witnes to the agreement betwix Kilboyak and Guthre; and as I declind to appeir in it, so did I observe and ador the wisdom and holiness of God, in dissolving the estat of that wicked person and his race by such means. I saw the Lord's holines, Guthre's unrighteousnes, Kilboyak's due punishment and judgment, by such a way; and such an instrument to be in a manner defrauded of his estate. Leathin ended for the price of the land, albeit b L'e gave the worth of the land. I was humbld even for my own uncleanness, and that I dwell among ..b Efter supper the tutour of Grang prest me with much earnestnes, to a Patrick Dunbar of Kilboyac. b Short-hand in MS. a wryt or goe to Inverness to plead for Da. Dumbar. I did in the fear of the Lord refus, and resisted al his importunitie, and durst not partak of other men's sin. I observd an admirabl providenc of God. Much pains and cost had Grang and others been at to gett Bishop and Gordoun, hoping, by this means, to releev Davi by giving them up. The Lord gave them good speed in the one, for his holines was concerned in it, that thes murtherers should not goe unpunished; but no speed in the other, for notwithstanding] al they had done, Davi was condemned to die. Further he made use of b, who did it not for love of God, or to glorifie his justice, and remove sin and blood, but rather for ther own natural or covetous ends. . . Glengerri made noe question to give up thes men, albeit he thoght them noe malefactours. They cam to him for refuge, he allowd ther deed in killing the men, he joined with them, yet now for other self ends betrays them, not out of the detest of the sin, nor to favour and aknowledg the judg or justice, but to pleas men. с On the 9.-The Ladi Brughs died at Coubin, and on the 12 was to be buried. 12. I went to the Ladi Brughs burial, and desired to be instructed in my mortaliti by it. I heard that som of Aldearn said they wer forc'd to subscriv the letter to Mr. Hari. The Lord consider and bring forth good of this; for we ar at our wit's end; readi to sink. 13. Die Dom. I was much pusl'd with the poor woman Cathrin Hendrie her disquiet; and could not know the causes of it. That her mind should be burthened with sin, and greivd and dejected, is noe marveil to me, but matter of hope and joy, and supplication and prais. Onlie the apprehensions of external violenc which shee feels; somtyms of a foul on her breast, somtym off a hound at her back, a hand, and words utterd to persuad her to blaspheam. I desird to enquir and consider, what may be from ordinar natural causes, or what may be from extraordinarie, unknown, spiritual causes; what is from a troubld imagination and fancie, melancholie or her complexion; or what may be external from Sathan: Whatever it be I have desir'd to lay it befor the Lord, to teach her, and to teach us. a Alexander Dunbar of Grange, in 1631. b Short-hand in MS. с Probably the wife of Robert Dunbar of Burgie. |
