Disclaimer: Though Isaac Newton died in 1727 and Charles Wesley wrote “Amazing Love” in 1738, this imaginary conversation between the two sheds light on our story.
In the quiet town of Bristol, beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient oak tree, two extraordinary men sought refuge from the stirring open-air meeting that had just concluded. Arriving by carriage, the duo, Charles Wesley, the celebrated hymn writer, and Sir Isaac Newton, the illustrious scientist, now found solace amidst the tranquil evening.
As twilight descended upon the town square, the conversation between the two friends shifted toward the enigmatic world of light, faith, and the human spirit. Bristol, in the early 18th century, was a place where the intellectual climate buzzed with fervor. The Age of Enlightenment was dawning, bringing with it a surge of scientific curiosity and a questioning of established beliefs.
Isaac Newton, known for his groundbreaking work in optics and physics, was a figure of awe and reverence in this era of intellectual exploration. Charles Wesley, a prominent hymnwriter and preacher, had witnessed firsthand the transformative power of his hymns during open-air meetings.
As they sat beneath the ancient oak, they shared their views on faith and science. Charles began, “Brother Newton, your discoveries in optics have illuminated the mysteries of our physical world, much like the message of our hymns illuminates the mysteries of our faith.”
Newton’s eyes sparkled with the enthusiasm of a scientist who had probed the deepest secrets of the universe. “Indeed, Charles, light itself is a profound symbol of revelation. In my experiments with prisms, I sought to understand the nature of light. By passing sunlight through a prism, I observed the formation of a spectrum of colors, from vibrant red to deep violet. This breakthrough unveiled the hidden composition of light, much like your hymns reveal the intricacies of faith.”
Continued next week