I can hardly apprehend the consequence of it to the land, and the Church, and his family.  The Lord give instruction.  I have seen the godly conversation, holy and Christian walk of a father, his watchfulness and fruitfulness, his secret communion with God, and yet I cannot say that my heart has been won to God by his example.’  A complete directory, indeed, for a Highland gentleman’s household religion might easily be collected out of Alexander Brodie’s domestic diary.

Another thing that greatly drew me to Brodie when I first read his diary was his noble and truly Christian acknowledgment of God in all the manifold experiences and events of his daily life. ’23_rd_ July, 1661.—­Came through the fells in England to Alsbori and dined there, saw a country full of grass, plentiful in comparison of us, and acknowledged God in it. . . .  Thus I saw a large beautiful country, not straitened with the poverty that my native soil labours under.  I desired to consider and understand this. . . .  I saw a mighty city, London, numerous, many souls in it, great plenty of things, and thought him a great king that had so many things at his command; yet how much greater is He who hath at His command all things created in heaven and on earth.  Who shall not fear Him? . . . August 17.—­Went this afternoon with Cassilis to the Bridge for natural refreshment, and I saw this populous city, and plenty in it.  I therein saw something of the Lord’s providence, who hath divided the kingdoms of the earth and given them their habitations, not all alike, but as His wisdom hath seen fit.  I saw the copper-works also, and acknowledged the Lord in the gifts and the faculties He hath given to the children of men. 27.—­I did see the Lord Mayor, his solemnities, and desired to be instructed by what I saw.  The variety of the Lord’s creatures on other parts of the earth was represented.  In this I did acknowledge Him.  But all the glory of the city neither abides nor can make its owner any the happier.  It cannot be laid hold upon.  It is not solid; it is but in conceit.  Oh learn me to be crucified to all this and the like, and make me wise unto salvation! Nov. 9—­Dined at Billingsgate; saw the prison of King’s Bench at Southwark, and the workers of glass, in all which I saw the manifold wisdom of God in all the gifts and faculties He hath given to the sons of men.  But alas!  I am so barren of any thoughts of God, and so have I found myself this day and at all times.’

   ’Yet, all these fences, and their whole array,
   One cunning bosom sin blows quite away.’