Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-03
Children's Names Enro lied in Heaven.

CQlIQT60S NduuSS 6uIUALCu ia 4ACdVOA'
In an old family Bible of my fathers, be-
tween the Old and New T~estaments, there
are two or three imprinted pages. Upon
one of these pages | find recorded the mar
riage of my parents, and Immediately I'M
der that record the names of my brothers
and sisters, with my W name, written by
my fathers own hand. [ know not how
such things may affect others, but | must
confess that the sight of that page always
produces in my mind a thrill of pleasure
and of hope. My eye never falls upon it
without being compelled to pause a mo-
ment. 1t is not the mere fact that [ see
there the handwriting of a beloved father
who has gone to another world, though
there is something even in that it is not
merely that there is my name penned by
him in joy, and gratitude, and hope but
the idea that moves me is-My name is writ
ten by a praying father, in one of Gods
bookstore of His books of life. True, it
was written by a human hand, and the
hand has long since mouldered away be-
meath the blessed Book, the record still re-
mains; aud as | gaze on it the question a.
rises-Did he not cause my name to be
written in another of Gods books?
The Lord Jesus Christ said to His dis
ciples, on a certain occasion, "Rejoice be-
cause your names are written in heaven ~
Can parentsd Oanyt thing dhavingtheir
children's names enrolled in heaven? What
an interesting question =! If they can,
where is the father or mother on earth
who would not rather have the name of
their child enrolled there, than on any re-
cord of honor which earth ever saw, or ev-
er will see? But is it possible-is it even
probable ? Is not that enrolment done
with Gods own hand Assuredly it is /;
but let us look at all the circumstances
whichw we may consider to be connected with
such a blessing. Will any one undertake
to say that the Lord Jesus does not write
the child's name in answer to the parent
prayers, and in the fulfllment of His OWL
peoples children? Must it not be so, i
! the prayers of parents ever avail any thing
toward their children's salvation ? | knew
Z a pious father and mother who hadan onl,
II son he was the latest born of the family
J and his parents s~olemnly devoted that DO.
to God for him they ceased not to pray a
3 he advanced in life. The child grew up
giving no indications of religious feelings
he approached manhood, and satan SCENE
to have him perfectly in his tolls. Friend
&c said he would be ruined, and all who kne'
him feared it, except that father and MT
ii Their they knew what they had done i
their hearts with their boy-they felt tn;
Ill they had dedicated him to God, and the
believed that God would have him and
OF an hour when they looked not for it
e an hour when he was away from his hon
~ the glad news came to them, " Your SC
y liveth." Was his salvation an answer
Z their prayers, as they always believed
IS to be? If 50, did they not enrol his nan
re in heaven?
We know that the purpose, the mean
" and the end Of Gods plan allmoye toget
Oh er; and may it not be the law of His kin
Oh dom, 81 will write in my book of life t
10 names of the children ofall my people VIII
WI like Abraham, will take hold of my COY
Ke nant, and like him command his househo
es after him." One thing is certainly tru
al The name of the child of praying parer
must be often heard in heaven, before t
very throne of God-as often as the fatl
'ch or the mother chooses to mention it. /,
oh sus must certainly know that child's nal
lth He must be very familiar with it, it |
beens so often mentionedto Him. The oh
ere has been SO often brought to His feet
cry morning and every evening he has be
'Sh remembered-and once on a certain oc
sion his parents brought him to the hol
SIS Of God, and in virtue of His own bless
covenant, 81 will be a God to thee and
MS thy seed after thee" they asked that tn
let child might be baptized, and thus ope
MS become one of christ's family. And tt
5nt his name was called out in the earthly sa
SIS tuary of God, and water, in the name
ION the Father, and the Son, and the II
: Il Ghost, was applied as a sign and seal
NAT strengthen the parents faith in Gods |
lent mise; and who can tell that child's ma
'ver in that very hour, was not heard in he
lud- en-, and enrolled there, and read off to 81
was that Jesus answers prayer, and to inf
That the angels that here was a little one aro,
less whom they must encamp, and over wi
bit they must watch, and be ministered spir
heir Yes, parents, | believe it to be a glori
Inds truth, that even as God allows us to W
hem their names in heavsn-that as He all