his moral government of the world in general. This has been already
power, as he says, being given to him, in heaven and in earth, that he may give eternal life to as many as the Father has given him: and he being exalted far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and made head over all things to the church.3 The angels being put in subjection to him, that he may employ them all as ministering spirits, for the good of them that shall be the heirs of his salvation: and all things being so governed by their Redeemer for them, that all things are theirs, whether things present or things to come:5 and all God's works of providence in the moral government of the world, which we have an account of in scripture history, or that are foretold in scripture prophecy, being evidently subordinate to the great purposes and ends of this great work. And besides, the work of redemption is that work by which good men are, as it were, created, or brought into being, as good men, or as restored to holiness and happiness. The work of redemption is a new creation, according to Scripture representation, whereby men are brought into a new existence, or are made new creatures.
From these things it follows, according to the fifth, sixth, and seventh positions, that the glory of God is the last end of the creation of the world.
8. The Scripture leads us to suppose that God's glory is his last end in his moral government of the world in general. This has been already shown concerning several things that belong to God's moral government of the world. As particularly, in the work of redemption, the chief of all his dispensations in his moral government of the world. And I have also observed it, with respect to the duty which God requires of the subjects of his moral government, in requiring them to seek his glory as their last end.9 And this is actually the last end of the moral goodness required of them; the end which gives their moral goodness its chief value. And also, that it is what that
person which God has set at the head of the moral world, as its chief governor, even Jesus Christ, seeks as his chief end. And it has been shown that it is the chief end for which that part of the moral world which are good are made, or have their existence as good.2 I now further observe that this is the end of the establishment of the public worship and ordinances of God among mankind. Hag. 1:8, "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord." This is spoken of as the end of God's promises of rewards, and of their fulfillment. 2 Cor. 1:20, "For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us." And this is spoken of as the end of the execution of God's threatenings, in the punishment of sin. Num. 14:20–23, "And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word. But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Jehovah. Because all those men, etc.… surely they shall not see the land." The glory of Jehovah is evidently here spoken of as that which he had regard to, as his highest and ultimate end; which therefore he could not fail of; but must take place everywhere, and in every case, through all parts of his dominion, whatever became of men. And whatever abatements might be made, as to judgments deserved; and whatever changes might be made in the course of God's proceedings, from compassion to sinners; yet the attaining of God's glory was an end, which being ultimate and supreme, must in no case whatsoever give place. This is spoken of as the end of God's executing judgments on his enemies in this world. Ex. 14:17, "And I will get me honor (ve- 'ikavedah, I will be glorified) upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host," etc.… Ezek. 28:22, "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I am against thee O Zion, and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her." So Ezek. 39:13, "Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown, the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord God." And this is