The names of the saints are represented as _written in Heaven_, This language is figurative, accommodated to human weakness. God hath promised salvation to the faithful and caused them to hope in his mercy; but memorandums are not necessary to remind him of his promises, or records in heaven to entitle the faithful to the heavenly inheritance. God's counsels are always before him. The phraseology of the text is borrowed from the customs of men, who need memorandums and records to secure the fulfillment of engagements. When men are made free of a city, or state, they are enrolled in the archives of the community--Thence probably the metaphorical language of the text, and similar scriptures: For we often find matters which are determined in the divine councils represented as written in celestial records--Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and _a book of remembrance was written before him_, for them that thought on "his name." Zion is said to be "graven on the palms of his hands"--The saints to be _written_ "in the book of life--The dead to be judged out of the things _written_ in the books" which will be opened at the grand assize when the world will be judged in righteousness. As the rewards of grace are made sure to the righteous, the address to the seventy speaks their knowledge of it--_Rejoice because your names are written in heaven_. They could not rejoice in an unknown good. But the manner in which their privileged state is mentioned supposes them acquainted with it. Christ did not here reveal it--did not say, _your names are written in heaven, therefore rejoice_, but rejoice because they are written there--because you know it to be the case. Neither do they appear to have possessed knowledge, in this respect, which others are denied. Others are also exhorted to rejoice in the Lord. The suffering Christians of that age were often reminded of the rewards in reserve for them, as what would abundantly compensate all their sufferings here; which supposed them acquainted with their title to glory. But how did they attain this knowledge? And how may others attain it? By considering the conditions of the promises and seeing that they have complied with them. The promises are made to faith and repentance, to love and obedience. Where these are found on a person, that person may know that _his name is written in heaven_.