Catching at a Bough

“As a mail falling into a river espieth a bough of a tree, and catches at it luith all his might, and as soon as he hath fast hold of it he is safe though troubles ajid fears do not presently vanish cut of his mind; so the soul, espying Christ as the only means to save hi?n, and reaching out the hand to hitn, is safe, though it be not presently quieted a?id pacified. The soul’s grasp of Jesus saves even when it does not comfort. If we touch the hem of his garment we are healed of our deadly disease, though our heart may still be full of trembling. We may be in consternation, but we cannot be under condemnation if we have believed in Jesus; even as the man who has grasped the branch may be wetted, but cannot be drowned. Safety is one thing, and assurance of it is another. Whether the believer in Christ Jesus is able to rejoice in his safety, or is still under bondage to fear, the word of the Lord standeth true beyond all question — “He that believeth in him hath everlasting life.”