John Newton's "Black Inspiration"

bookslover · #1 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 03:21 AM

I think this is interestingly put. Here's John Newton (1725-1807) describing what he called "black inspiration" - the negative side of spiritual influence. It's from a letter dated February 23, 1775:

...there undoubtedly is what I may call a "black inspiration," the influence of the evil spirits who work in the hearts of the disobedient, and not only excite their wills, but assist their faculties, and qualify as well as incline them to be more assiduously wicked, and more extensively mischevous, than they could be of themselves. I consider Voltaire, for instance, and many writers of the same stamp, to be little more than secretaries and amanuenses of one who has unspeakably more wit and adroitness in promoting infidelity and immorality, than they of themselves can justly pretend to. They have, for awhile, the credit (if I may so call it) of the fund from whence they drew; but the world little imagines who is the real and original author of that philosophy and poetry, of those fine turns and sprightly inventions, which are so generally admired. Perhaps many, now applauded for their genius, would have been comparatively dolts, had they not been engaged in a cause which Satan has so much interest in supporting.

Herald · #2 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 03:53 AM

Wow. I think Newton's words are in keeping with Ephesians 2:1-3:

Quote:

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

armourbearer · #3 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookslover

Perhaps many, now applauded for their genius, would have been comparatively dolts, had they not been engaged in a cause which Satan has so much interest in supporting.[/i]

Yes, I remember an elderly saint once pointing out to me that intellectual aptitude merely requires something congenial to spark it into action.