matter as to the stipend to the desird clos; wherin I acknowledgd the Lord, and desird he might mak it up to them, and particularli to Sir George M'Enzie.

30. I met with Grang, and subscrivd that contract betwix Francis and his sister.

2 May.—I heard that a woman, Drumriach's daughter, had at Struthers put down herself. A woman in Tarras was apprehended for killing her own child. I desird to be humbld befor the Lord under thes sad judgments, and to be instructed by them.

6. This day Francis Brodie and Lilias Dunbar wer maried. I was much dealt with, but could not weel consent to goe. Yet did not I think it unlawfull or sinfull. I desird the Lord's blessing upon them, and that it might be to the glori of God.

Geo. Stewart cam to me, and we traveld throgh the wood of Darnaway. We saw and kild an adder; wherin I saw, as the Lord's providenc, so my natur; how lyk was I to thatbeast that was ful of poison, and ther teeth did cutt unto death. I considerd ther cace in the wildernes that wer stung, and adord the Lord for the brazen serpent. Lord Jesus! then said [I], Thou art that serpent: I desir to look to Thee and be heald.

7 and 8-I was at Elgin. I observd the ministers at the Sinod inclind to tak in corrupt men. I did forsee the judgment that this would be to this Church, if He did permit it. I exhorted and prayd against it. The Sheriff refusd to accept of our oath of Justices of Peace, otherwayes then to swear to the present power and gouernment. I desired to consider and be instructed.

9.-I heard of the Sinod's admitting Mr. Geo. Hanna,a and desird to be humbld for it. . . . I was readie to withdraw from al assemblies; but, oh Lord! keep my spirit in a fram of sobernes.

I heard in what danger Wil. Gordoun of Lunan was in, and Christian Russel, with the opinion of the Quakers, and following and hearking to a voic within them rather then to the Word. This I did spread befor the Lord.

Mr. George Hanna, formerly minister of Alves had been deposed by the Commission of the Kirk, at Aberdeen, in May, 1647, for his compliance with the Marquis of Huntly. (Extracts from the Presbytery

Book of Strathbogie, p. 80.) At a meeting of the Synod of Murray, in May, 1656, he presented a petition to the Synod, praying to be restored. (Gordon's Scots Affairs, vol. iii., p. 207.)

10. I met with the L. Altyr, and saw in him my own corruption; a head ful of devises, and much taken up to bring things to pass, but a hart litl imploying or resting on the Lord for direction or success. Oh! help me, Lord, to live by faith!

12.—I did warn and admonish my poor sone, and saw the foolishnes and perversnes of his heart, and how unfaithfullie and unprofitabli he walked. My hart rais with indignation against him; yet the Lord calmd my spirit, soe that I reprovd and movd him to confess and pray to the Lord. Oh! all this is in vain without Thee. I hav lookd therfor to Thee to chang his hart. The day may com when I shall have litl comfort in the world of al my labour, if a fool shall com after me.

15.-Francis and his wyf cam ham e]. I had purposd not to goe ther; but going by the way, I desird in it to lay asid passion and deni myself, and to yeeld, albeit all that they did was blameable.

I did this day freelie admonish Mr. Wil. Falconar anent the reponing off the three prophan ministers, and desird to shew him how unlyk did they walk to the Court of Christ, quhen as they mad it a den and receptacl to reaceave such unworthi men. Ani cours for promoting godlines would be opposd or suspected, such persons befreinded. Oh what sad things does this presage! Few words of Christ amongst us in our societie, and litl hold taken on them where they were.

16.-In going about the feilds, I delight in feilds, grass, wood, &c. against, that such decaying, corruptibl, poor comforts, steal not away my heart.

found the hart apt to rys with carnal This I desird the Lord to guard me

21.-Elspet Fraser cam ouer, and was under great trouble. A mor sharp fitt did I neuer see: a poor creatur soe exercisd in her mind, that shee was driuen to hurt her own bodie, and could not be detained from throwing herself. I desird to examin, iff it was from Sathan, or if from her own distemperd mind, or from both. I did rys out of my bed, and cam down; we pray'd and spoke. I was drie and straitnd: but in a short space the Lord recouered her, and then shee crid out for the Lord Jesus, with strong desires, and said the enemi was strong, and had tugged at her twic in tym of famili worship. I cannot enogh consider nor tak up this case; but lifts myn eys to Him that wil teach the simple, and the ignorant, and desirs He would mak me tak up her case, and himself would com doun, and piti, and deliuer.

22.-D. Brodie cam from Edinburgh, and broght me word that the Councel of England had granted our liberation anent the King's date. I desird not to allow myself much joy in ani thing created, and therfor to receave it soberlie. But if it hold true what ground of thankfulnes haue

I. . . .

30. I met at the visitation of Forres, and saw litl of the coming of the Lord's kingdom Onli poor Elsp. Fraser assaulted with new trouble from Sathan. We therupon did appoint to meet at Brodie on Weddnesday night, 4 of Jun, to seek the Lord.

31.-I cam hom; the rains detaind me at Forres last night.

3 June. This day we did meet anent the Schoolmaster of Forres. Ther did an Englishman perish on the water on the 30 of May, and was found upon the 1 of June. Much trouble and severiti usd they against som poor men upon suspicion: lay it not, Lord! to ther charge. Much hatred did they expres against us and our nation. Lord! let us hau thy good wil. I heard of the fearful breach betwix the Protestors and Assembli men at Aberdeen Sinod, and I desird to mourn under this and be humbld, and to beseech the Lord to mak up thes breaches, and to turn away his wrath for the Lord's sake.

my

Sister

4. I cal'd to mind and examind som words which I had with yesternight. That she had days of much consolation. I warnd her not to rest on that, but to learn to live by faith when al that was gone; a day of fruit is worth two days of comfort: joy and sene is sweit, but is not so much grac as the reward and encouradgment of grac. Oh! I desir to examin thes words, that I discourag not her, nor wrong the Spirit of God, throgh ignoranc or other sinful mistak: far enough is myself from this fram. Next I desird to consider that I said, That the Lord required each of us to walk in som particular calling; and it was not an allowabl calling of God to give ourselvs to prayer, medit[ation] &c. She said, David had noe calling. I spok of the distanc and bounds to be kept betwix persons in ther several stations, and that non should be idle. She said, Thes that should be heirs of glori with us, we oght not to compt the less of them for outward thing. I replied, Heirs of glori did not exeem them from al civil duties and subjection on earth. He might have mor grac then I, and sit above me in heaven, that wer not to goe befor me, nay, nor be considerd besid me on earth.

After som aim at seeking the Lord in secret, we met, and from 6 to nyn at night, we conferrd and prayd; and, efter some refreshment taken at supper, we did enter again, and Mr. Hugh praid.

Poor Elsp. Fraser saw 3 fyres, even when we wer at exercys. Wil. Innes said he was forcit to speake, and to tell what the Lord did for his soul. Mr. Jhon's wyf was most heavili afflicted. We did have recours to God for all thes, and for the particulars mentiond in the 30 of May. Efter day break we went to rest.

6.—I had a cal from the Presb. to goe to Aldearn. But I desird to weigh the necessiti of it, and to be instructed.

I heard the strong rooted prejudices which Mr. Murdoch M'Kenziea had against the act for promoving pietie; and ther opposition to it. I could not but be troubld to see the watchmen tak away ther vail. Oh how sad lyk seems this judgment! . . . 1. He said masters of famili, or parents, should not explain, catechiz, or scriptur to thes under ther charg. 2. Men should not be tied to perform duties that they cannot, as prayer in ther families; and if a man be overtaken with drink, must he sit doun and pray? 3. He objected against this, That if men wer so impudent as to say they performd thes duties and yet did not, they should be censurd, removd from ther office, debaird the sacrament, &c. Lord, look to this, and to the honour of thy own nam!

8. Die Dom. This day from my hart I desird to consider and be weighted. 1. With the dissolutnes and loosnes of the famili. Mani of them cam not to worship, as Jhon Due, Brambner, D. Simson, and the Glasses, and my daughter's women. 2. I was much dejected both in conference and prayer; and, for a long tym, they or myself have found litl sapp in thes ordinances. Al was dried up as to them, or my own soul. 3. Neglect of catechizing and instructing them 4. I am exposd greatli to temptations of covetousnes, and carnal inordinat desires and designes; whereby the spirit of God is greivd, and the work of God in my own, and the souls of others, hinderd. 5. Domestic familie strait.

This day Mr. Wil. changd a litl the strain of his preaching; and fel in

a Mr. Murdoch M'Kenzie was at this time minister of Elgin. In 1662, he was made Bishop of Moray, and in 1677, translated to the See of Orkney. He died in

February, 1688, nearly a hundred years old. (Keith's Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops, p. 228.)

upon the love of Christ; and gave som marks of it; and how to know if we had reaceavd the spirit of adoption. Oh that the Lord would give him the tongue of the learnd!

12. I was cald to Alves to a meeting Ther I was overtaken with passion, mor then becam. I spok anent the sherif's resisting our sitting, and anent the oath of Justices of Peace.

Mr. James Gordoun spok to me anent the differences betwixt ministers, and advizd to moderation and sobrieti. Ther is much need of it; for I find much corruption in my best affections.

25.-I mett with Pluscarden and Grang at Kinloss. But this took no effect. I fear ther confidenc. I did with reluctanci stay all night at Forres, to wryt som lettres to them; but refusd to wryt to the Judges. In this forgiu what is sinful, and tak away the dross; and accept and confirm me in Christ Jesus.

26. I rose earlie, and scarce took the leizour to worship God; so hastie was I about the threshing. Let not the Lord impute !

I heard of the Sherif's storming, and exception at us, that we medld too much I saw his injustice and greedines, and desird to be humbld.

The Cornet cam to Brodie, and the trouper: they did beget som trouble to us. I comitted al this to God, and desirs to be rid of all sinful humours or self love. They desird to diet with us: but by them my freedom is much impaird.

27. The sogers wer unrulie, both with us and in Torie; in the consideration wheroff, I desird to be humbld and instructed. We bear a lit with much impatiencie. Oh what would we doe if we had Spainard or French among us.

29.-I missd a great deal of money, at least 30 lb., which I suspected to be stollen from me. I knew not whom to chalendg; but if the Lord thoght fitt I would begg an convincd penitent hart to them, and ther sin might be discoverd to themselvs, and I might know them, if it seemd good to Him, and no otherways.

1 Juli.-I went to Forres, and to Moortoun at night. Our vessel was this day ladend and cleer.

2.-I heard of the deceas of the Lord Humbi; and for this I desird to

Sir Adam Hepburn of Humbie, who I. in 1641. He died in June, 1656. was appointed Lord of Session by Charles