May 7

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them."—Revelation 20:4.

THERE are four estates, a master in theology says, of the human will.

There is its estate of Innocence in Paradise, when it was surrounded only by what is pure and sweet, and when it was itself in absolute sympathy with its august and winsome surroundings. But that golden age lies far behind me in the distant past. I scarcely remember it—I have trudged so many wilful and wearisome stages "from my first love."

There is its estate of Sin and Misery. To-day I fancy myself free, but I have bound the irons on my ankles and wrists; I am a slave who should have been a prince. Have I not worshipped the beast and his image? Have I not received his mark on my forehead and my hand?

Yes; but there is its estate of Regeneration and Renewal. I am born again by a divine majesty and grace. I am lifted out of the old Slough of Despond. One is my Master now, even Christ; and where will you find His like? And yet my new life is subject meantime to many fluctuations. I am waiting still for some better thing, like the men of the frozen Arctic world who see a light above the horizon, and wait and long for the advent of the summer and the sun.

So, finally, there is its estate of Perfection in heaven. I saw thrones, and they sat upon them. Over these the second death has no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ. At length, my will is altogether holy and obedient and consecrated and true. At length, I shall exclude evil, and shall do good alone.

God bring me to the golden age in front, which is still better than the golden age behind!