Proverbs 25:27 [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.
Ver. 27. It is not good to eat too much honey.] For it breeds choler and brings diseases.
So for men to search their own glory,] i.e., To be "desirous of vain glory"; Gal 5:26 to seek the praise of men; to hunt after the world's plaudite; to say to it, as Tiberius once answered Justinus, Si tu volueris ego sum, si tu non vis ego non sum - I am wholly thine, I am only thy clay and wax; this is base and inglorious; this is to be Gloriae animal, popularis aurae vile mancipium, the creature of vain glory, a base slave to popular applause, as Jerome a calls Crates, the philosopher, who cast his goods into the sea merely for a name. Some do all for a name, as Jehu and the Pharisees; like kites, they flutter up a little, but their eye is upon the carrion. The Chaldee paraphrast by "their glory," understands the majesty of the Scriptures - which to David were sweeter than honey. These we must search, but not too curiously. Ne qui scrutatur maiestam, opprimatur a gloria, as the Vulgate here hath it; lest prying into God's majesty we be oppressed by his glory.
a Jer., Epist. ad Julian. Consolator.