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Doc. 35.] 195
SWEDBERG’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Abraham, Isaac, orJacob. So with King David. He too had many
sons, none of whom he called Jesse, or David. Solomon, likewise,
had many sons, and yet he called none of them David, Jesse, or
Solomon; and none of his numerous descendants, among whom
were great kings and princes, were called David or Solomon.
Nevertheless, this good custom had been discontinued even
before the time of Christ, as appears from the history of John
the Baptist, whom with one accord they desired to name after
his father Zacharias, which is a beautiful and significant name,
meaning memoria Domini, the Lord’s remembrance, viz. that
he should be constantly mindful of the Lord.
I am far from presuming hereby to blame, find fault
with, or disapprove of, those who name their children thus;
yet I hope and expect that no one will find fault with
my mode of naming my children, since I have the Bible, and
the example of so many saints, on my side. I am also fully
convinced that children ought to be called such names as will
awaken in, and remind them of, the fear of God, and
of everything that is orderly and righteous ; quite different
from many inconsiderate parents, who call their children by
such improper names, as Björn (bear), Ulf (wolf), Thorheol
(wheel of Thor, or of the Thunderer), or who name them
after the heathenish god Thor, without remembering the answer
which the prudent Abigail gave to King David concerning
her husband Nabal: “Let not my Lord set his heart against
this man of Belial, even Nabal: for he is a foolish man, cven
as is his name, and folly is with him ." The name of my son
Emanuel signifies “God with us ;" that he may always remember
God’s presence, and that intimate, holy, and mysterious con
junction with our good and gracious God, into which we are
brought by faith, by which we are conjoined with Him , and
are in Him . And blessed be the Lord’s name ! God has to
this hour been with him ; and may He be further with him ,
until he be eternally united with Him in His kingdom !
Eliezer signifies “God is my help ;" and he has also been
graciously and joyfully helped by God. He was a good and
pious child, and had made good progress, when, in his twenty
fifth year, he was called away by a blessed death. The youngest
son was called Jesper only for this reason, that he was born
13*
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