The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises

The storm doth not cease, as soon as the ship-man hath cast anchor, the winds then may yet blow, and the tempest may be as strong, nay, it may be stronger than before; but the rock to which thou art fastened is sure, or if thy anchor hold, all is sure. Nothing shall hinder safety, though something may interrupt thy security to thine own apprehension.

The storm doth not cease, as soon as the ship-man hath cast anchor, the winds then may yet blow, and the tempest may be as strong, nay, it may be stronger than before; but the rock to which thou art fastned is sure, or if thy anchor hold, all is sure. Nothing shall hinder safety, though something may interrupt thy security to thine own apprehension.

To trust is the act of faith, but apprehended security is the fruit of believing, and therefore cometh not till afterward, it may be some months, may be some years, after long experience. Nay, it is not an inseparable fruit of believing, I mean, thy apprehended security is not: thou mayest possibly never in this life reach the apprehensions of thy security, and yet thy condition may be secure. It is secure (as I said) in the promise, though not to sense, if thou dyest whilst thou ridest at Anchor, having thrown it out, and fastened it on Christ; yet thou dyest in the ship, and not in the sea; thou dyest in the Covenant of Peace, and there is safety, though the storm in this world may never cease. That which I would commend to thee, is to be much in self-purging, self-humbling, self-examination, trust much, and steadfastly to the end. Do as they did in that great storm, when neither Sun nor Stars were seen for many days, cast out anchor, and wish for day; nay, cast out two anchors (that is safest in a tempestuous night) trust and pray, that God would break into thy soul with a calm morning light; and mean while wait, and say, When will the day break, and these shadows, this darkness, this tempest fly away. My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him, Psal. 62.5.

To trust is the act of faith, but apprehended security is the fruit of believing, and therefore cometh not till afterward, it may be some moneths, may be some years, after long experience. Nay, it is not an inseparable fruit of believing, I mean, thy apprehended security is not: thou maist possibly never in this life reach the apprehensions of thy security, and yet thy condition may be secure. It is secure (as I said) in the promise, though not to sense, if thou dyest whilst thou ridest at Anchor, having thrown it out, and fastned it on Christ; yet thou dyest in the ship, and not in the sea; thou dyest in the Covenant of Peace, and there is safety, though the storm in this world may never cease. That which I would commend to thee, is to be much in self-purging, self-humbling, self-examination, trust much, and stedfastly to the end. Do as they did in that great storm, when neither Sun nor Stars were seen for many days, cast out anchor, and wish for day; nay, cast out two anchors (that is safest in a tempestuous night) trust and pray, that God would break into thy soul with a calm morning light; and mean while wait, and say, When will the day break, and these shadows, this darkness, this tempest fly away. My soul, wait thou onely upon God, for my expectation is from him,