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?