Vol. 2

forth his hand to sustain it.CHAPTER IV. 59By being in ship, thatis to say, in the church, with Christ and his apostles,we are not in a state of perfect safety, and secure fromall temptations. The waves of heresy toss it fromwithout; but the corruption of manners within, hkethe water which beat into this ship, puts it in muchgreater danger of perishing.This corrupt water shallbe cast out, and the ship will then arrivesafe in theharbour." 38. And he was in the hinder part of the ship,asleep on a pillow : and they awake him, and say untohim. Master, carest thou not that we perish " ?If Jesus Christ seem to be asleep intimes of persecutionor temptation, it is only to oblige us to applyourselves to him, and to lay before him our dangerwith fervency and confidence.Jesus sleeps indeed,but his heart continually watches over his disciplesand his church. When the church is in greatstraits he expects to be awakened, that is, invokedwith the loud cries of charity,and the importunityof prayer. It is to the prayers and groans of thechurch that he vouchsafes to grant peace and a calm.Nothing is more grateful to him than this complaint ofhis true disciples and of holy bishops, which showstheir concern for the church, their compassion on itsevils, and their confidence in him." 39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, andsaid unto the sea. Peace, be still. And the windceased, and there was a great calm."When passions the most violent, temptations themost dangerous, and the dread of the greatest evils,put our hearts in the most perilous condition, whydo we not fly to him whose almighty will can quiet