Wherein is considered what is meant by the glory of God and the name of God in Scripture, when spoken of as God’s ends in his works.
Having thus considered, what are spoken of in the Holy Scriptures, as the ends which God had ultimately in view in the creation of the world, I now proceed particularly to inquire what they are, and how the terms are to be understood?
1. Let us begin with the phrase, the glory of god—And here I might observe, that it is sometimes used to signify the second person in the Trinity; but it is not necessary, at this time, to prove it from particular passages of Scripture. Omitting this, I proceed to observe some things concerning the Hebrew word (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) which is most commonly used in the Old Testament, where we have the word glory in the English Bible. The root it comes from, is either the verb, (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) which signifies to be heavy, or make heavy, or from the adjective (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) which signifies heavy or weighty. These, as seems pretty manifest, are the primary signification of these words, though they have also other meanings, which seem to be derivative. The noun (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) signifies gravity, heaviness, greatness, and abundance. Of very many places it will be sufficient to specify a few. Prov. xxvii. 3. 2 Sam. xiv. 26. 1 Kings xii. 11. Psal. xxxviii. 4. Isa. xxx. 27. And as the weight of bodies arises from two things, density and magnitude; so we find the word used to signify dense, Exod. xix. 16. (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) nubes gravis, Vulg. densissima,) a dense cloud; and is very often used for great. Isa. xxxii. 2. Gen. v. 9. 1 Kings x. 2. 2 Kings vi. 14. and xviii. 17. Isa. xxxvi. 2. &c.
The Hebrew word (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) which is commonly translated glory, is used in such a manner as might be expected from this signification of the words from whence it comes. Sometimes it is used to signify what is internal, inherent, or in the possession of the person: and sometimes for emanation, exhibition, or communication of this internal glory: and sometimes for the knowledge, or sense of these, in those to whom the exhibition or communication is made; or an expression of this knowledge, sense or effect. And here I would note, that agreeable to the use of this word in the Old Testament, is the Greek word (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) in the New. For as the word (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) is generally translated by the just mentioned Greek word (⟨Greek/Hebrew text missing in source⟩) in the Septuagint; so it is apparent, that this word is designed to be used to signify the same thing in the New Testament with the other in the Old. This might be abundantly proved, by comparing particular places of the Old Testament; but probably it will not be denied. I therefore proceed particularly to consider these words, with regard to their use in Scripture, in each of the forementioned ways.
1. The word glory denotes sometimes what is internal. When the word is used to signify what is within, or in the possession of the subject, it very commonly signifies excellency, dignity, or worthiness of regard. This, according to the Hebrew idiom, is, as it were, the weight of a thing, as that by which it is heavy; as to be light, is to be worthless, without value, contemptible. Numb. xxi. 5. “This light bread.” 1 Sam. xviii. 2 3. “Seemeth it a light thing.” Judg. ix. 4 “Light persons,” i.e. worthless, vain, vile persons. So Zeph. iii. 4. To set light by is to despise, 2 Sam. xix. 43. Belshazzar’s vileness in the sight of God is represented by his being Tekel, weighed in the balances and found light, Dan. v. 27. And as the weight of a thing arises from its magnitude, and its specific gravity conjunctly; so the word glory is very commonly used to signify the excellency of a person or a thing, as consisting either in greatness, or in beauty, or in both conjunctly; as will abundantly appear by considering the places referred to in the margin. 1
Sometimes that internal, great and excellent good, which is called glory, is rather in possession, than inherent. Any one may be called heavy, that possesses an abundance; and he that is empty and destitute, may be called light. Thus we find riches are sometimes called glory. Gen. xxxi. 1. “And of that which was our fathers’ hath he gotten all this glory.” Esth. v. 11. “Haman told them of the glory of his riches.” Psal. xlix. 16, 17. “Be not afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased. For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away, his glory shall not descend after him.” Nah. ii. 9. “Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold; for there is none end of the store and glory out of the pleasant furniture.”