This week in Christian history: ‘Amazing Grace’ first sung, Robert Boyle's thunderstorm conversion experience
Robert Boyle has conversion experience – Dec. 29, 1640
This week marks the anniversary of when Robert Boyle, a prominent Irish-born scientist and Christian essayist, had a deep religious experience during a thunderstorm.
While a student in Switzerland, 13-year-old Boyle was awakened at night by a major thunderstorm, which he later wrote as being so fierce that he “began to imagine them the sallies of that fire that must consume the world.”
“He long continuance of that dismal tempest, when the winds were so loud, as almost drowned the noise of the very thunder, and the showers so hideous, as almost quenched the lightning, ere it could reach his eyes, confirmed Philaretus in his apprehensions of the day of judgment's being at hand,” Boyle stated, with “Philaretus” being a nickname he gave to himself.
“Whereupon the consideration of his unpreparedness to welcome it, and the hideousness of being surprised by it in an unfit condition, made him resolve and vow, that if his fears were that night disappointed, all his future additions to his life should be more religiously and watchfully employed.”
Boyle would go on to write extensively about chemistry, medicine and natural history. He also helped found the Royal Society of London and devoted much effort to faith-based work.
“His prolific output also included Christian devotional and ethical essays and theological tracts on biblical language, the limits of reason, and the role of the natural philosopher as a Christian,” explained Britannica. “He sponsored many religious missions as well as the translation of the Scriptures into several languages.”
