5. There is one circumstance more which will follow the judgment, that deserves our serious consideration. _We look_, says the apostle, _according to his promise, for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness_.[57] The promise stands in the prophecy of _Isaiah_, _Behold I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former shall not be remembered_:[58] so great shall the glory of the latter be. These St. _John_ did behold in the visions of God. _I saw_, saith he, _a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away_.[59] And only _righteousness dwelt therein_. Accordingly he adds, _and I heard a great voice from_ the third _heaven, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God_.[60] Of necessity therefore they will all be happy: _God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain.[61] There shall be no more curse; but they shall see his face_,[62] shall have the nearest access to, and thence the highest resemblance of him. This is the strongest expression in the language of scripture to denote the most perfect happiness. _And his name shall be on their foreheads._ They shall be openly acknowledged as God’s own property: and his glorious nature shall most visibly shine forth in them. _And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun: for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever._
IV. It remains only, to apply the preceding considerations to all who are here before God. And are we not directly led so to do, by the present solemnity, which so naturally points us to that day, when the Lord _will judge the world in righteousness_? This therefore, by reminding us of that more awful season, may furnish many lessons of instruction. A few of these I may be permitted just to touch on. May God write them on all our hearts!
1. * And, first, _how beautiful are the feet_ of those who are sent by the wise and gracious providence of God, to execute justice on earth, to defend the injured, and punish the wrong-doer! Are they not _the ministers of God to us for good_, the grand supporters of the public tranquility, the patrons of innocence and virtue, the great security of all our temporal blessings? And does not every one of these represent not only an earthly prince, but the Judge of the earth? Him whose _name is written upon his thigh, King of kings and Lord of lords_! O that all these _sons of the right hand of the Most High_, may be holy as he is holy! Wise with the _wisdom that sitteth by his throne_, like him who is the eternal Wisdom of the Father! No respecters of persons, as he is none; but _rendering to every man according to his works_: like him inflexibly, inexorably just, though pitiful and of tender mercy: so shall they be terrible indeed to them that do evil, as _not bearing the sword in vain_. So shall the laws of our land have their full use and due honour, and the throne of our King be still _established in righteousness_.
2. * Ye truly honourable men, whom God and the king have commissioned, in a lower degree to administer justice: may not ye be compared to those ministering spirits who will attend the Judge coming in the clouds? May you, like them, burn with love to God and man! May you love righteousness and hate iniquity! May ye all minister in your several spheres (such honour hath God given you also!) to them that shall be heirs of salvation, and to the glory of your great Sovereign! May ye remain the establishers of peace, the blessing and ornaments of your country, the protectors of a guilty land, the guardian angels of all that are round about you!
3. You, whose office it is to execute what is given you in charge by him before whom you stand; how nearly are you concerned to resemble those, that stand before the face of the Son of man? Those _servants of his that do his pleasure, and hearken to the voice of his words_. Does it not highly import _you_, to be as uncorrupt as _them_? To approve yourselves the servants of God? To do justly and love mercy; to do to all as ye would they should do to you? So shall that great Judge, under whose eye you continually stand, say to you also, _Well done, good and faithful servants: enter ye into the joy of your Lord_!