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 life. They have the same infantile mind, the same innocence in ignorance, and the same tenderness in all things. They are only in rudimental states introductory to the angelic—for infants are not angels. Every one after his decease, is in a similar state of life to that in which he was in the world; an infant in a state of infancy, a boy in a state of boyhood, a youth, a man, an old man, in the state of youth, of a man, and of an old man; but the state of every one is afterwards changed. The state of infants, however, excels that of all others in this respect, that they are in innocence, and evil from actual life has not yet taken root in them. And such is the nature of innocence, that all things of heaven may be implanted in it; for it is the receptacle of the truth of faith and of the good of love."—H. H. n. 330.

"As soon as infants are raised from the dead, which takes place immediately after their decease, they are taken into heaven, and committed to the care of angels of the female sex, who in the life of the body loved little children tenderly, and at the same time loved God. Because these angels when in the world loved all infants from a sort of maternal tenderness, they receive them as their own; and the little ones also, from an inclination implanted in them, love them as their own mothers. Each one has as, many infants under her care, as she desires from a spiritual maternal affection."—Ibid. n. 332.

The condition, in the spiritual world, of those who die in infancy and childhood, is thus seen to be preferable to that of those who continue on earth. Their surroundings are more favorable to the growth of the heavenly graces. They are in better company. Their spiritual wants are more fully supplied; for those who have them in charge are wiser than the wisest mothers or nurses