Begun Recovery

In preparation for some Genesis Project lectures next year I've been reading Thomas Boston's book "Human Nature In It's Fourfold State".  The fourfold states are as follows:

I. THE STATE OF INNOCENCE

II. THE STATE OF NATURE

III. THE STATE OF GRACE

IV. THE ETERNAL STATE

Boston was a Scottish guy who died in 1732.  His writing is sometimes tough going and I'm struggling to trudge through section II at present.  It contains 140 pages about sin, it's misery and judgement. I've read 120 of these pages and have been made thoroughly miserable by them.  But the other morning my spirit was lifted as I relooked at the contents page and noted the subtitles:

I. (Primitive Integrity)

II. (Entire Depravity)

III. (Begun Recovery)

IV. (Consummate Happiness or Misery)

Ah - what joy - through Christ God is recovering his creation. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  Look at yourself Christian - right now you are in a state of "begun recovery!"  That is RIGHT NOW. Rejoice.

And one day it will be complete recovery!