English physicist, mathematician, and astronomer (1643–1727), widely regarded as the most influential figure in the history of science, whose ideas and discoveries, including calculus, the laws of gravitation and motion, and observations on the nature of light and optics, earned him a place among the most profound geniuses in the history of mankind.
Incredibly rare unsigned handwritten religious manuscript fragment on an 8 x 4.5 off-white sheet, clipped from a larger page. Newton pens 18 lines in this entry on religion and the Devil. Newton writes, in full:
“us that if Arians opposed and denied these miracles. You have now heard, saith he the Devils crying out & confessing to ye martyrs that they could not endure the tortures of saying why are you come to torment us before ye time? And the Arians say those are not martyrs nor can torment the Devil nor deliver any man. And a little after. We have heard to day those on whom my hand was put, say that no man can be saved who denys ye father son & Holy Ghost, who believes not ye omnipotent virtue of ye Trinity.
The Devil confesses this but ye Arians will not confess it. The Devil saith let him be so tortured as he was tortured by ye martyrs, who denies the deity of the Holy Ghost. I received not ye Devil’s testimony but his confession. The Devils said to day & yesterday, we know that ye are martyrs, & ye Arians say we do not know we will not understand we will not believe. The Devils say to ye martyrs, Do you come to destroy us? The Arians say they are not true torments of Devils but feigned.” In very good condition, with staining to top left, not affecting legibility of text, scattered toning and soiling, and chips to right edge.
Though best known for his endeavors in theoretical science, Newton in fact devoted more time to the study of Scripture than to science and energetically pursued his Biblical researches with increasing intensity throughout his life. For Newton, the joint study of nature and theology was a mutually reinforcing enterprise. Leaving behind four million words on theology, Newton was one of the greatest lay theologians of his age.
Almost all of Newton’s manuscripts are held by institutions, and the piece offered here is accordingly a rare opportunity to obtain a significant and lengthy text by the great scientist. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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