Infants, as soon as raised from death, which is immediately after their decease, are taken up into a heaven appropriated to them, and delivered at first into the care of such female angels, as had been particularly fond of children while in the world, and who also loved God. These receive them as their own offspring, and the children in return love them as their own mothers; each of whom takes as many of them under her care, as her tenderness and inclination prompt her to take. Though the infants, previous to their death, might not have been able either to walk or to speak, yet, on their entrance into the spiritual world, they are immediately capable of doing both, but imperfectly. They soon, however, improve in these respects; and as their education proceeds, according to the disposition of each, which with some is of a spiritual, and with others of a celestial character, their intellectual attainments become conspicuous, and all the faculties of their minds are enlarged. When they have completed their first period under the care of their female tutors, they are then translated to another heaven, where they are instructed by angelical masters, and so pass on to further improvements.
Children do not continue children in heaven, but grow in stature as they grow in understanding and wisdom, until they appear as adults, and then they are ranked among the number of angels. But it is to be noted, that in heaven children do not advance in their external form and appearance beyond youth, or the flower of their age, but remain stationary in that spring-time of life for ever. Their progress, however, in love, wisdom, and intelligence, ceases not, but keeps pace with their interior state of innocence, which continually rises in degree, and crowns them with a blessed and happy immortality.
