Stealing Dead Men’s Words: Sermons from Church History
Jonathan Edwards: The End for Which God Created the World, Psalm 8, Psalm 19, Psalm 23

• Born in 1703 in Connecticut
• Graduated valedictorian of Yale in 1720 at the age of 17; After a short pastorate returned to Yale
• 1726 became assistant minister of the Congregational Church at Northampton
• 1727 married Sarah
• 1729 became lead pastor of a church with over 600 members, where he served for 23 years
• In the 1730s, the First Great Awakening
• On July 8, 1741 Edwards preached the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
• 1749 Edwards published David Brainerd’s diary
• 1750 fired by his church
• 1751 pastored a small church of Native Americans and colonists
• 1758 became the president of Princeton but died on March 22, 1758 of smallpox 

I.     From Nature, What is the End for which God Created the World?
       A.  Before God created the world, He had an end already in mind
       B.  In the work of God, other subordinate ends may be observed, but these               do not undermine His ultimate end
       C.  The display of God’s glory is the end for which God created the world
            and all subordinate ends are means to achieving that ultimate end
II.   Objections answered
       A.  Does the creation imply some lack in God?
            God has eternally been a God of revelation and creation, keeping the    
            perfections of creation eternally in His mind
       B.  Does the creation imply that God is selfish?
            Glorifying God brings the most joy to us
       C.  Does the applause of humans appear unworthy of God?
            Praising God for His glory is for our greater good, therefore a perfect God             would not withhold that good from His creation

III.  From Scripture, What is the End for which God Created the World?
       A.  “For His name’s sake” God has created and saved
       B.   The glory of God as the culmination of history
       C.   The glory of God as communicated in His desire for good for all people
       D.   The glory of God on display in the person and work of Jesus Christ,                      especially in the grace of God in Christ