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Spiritual colors

Spiritual colors

By Peter Leithart

Christopher Smart wrote Jubilate Agno while confined in a madhouse. He would have said, no doubt, he found his sanity there.

Newtonians, they are the madmen:

For Newton’s notion of colours is ALOGOS unphilosophical. For the colours are spiritual . . . . NOW that colour is spiritual appears inasmuch as the blessing of God upon all things descends in colour. For the blessing of health upon the human face is in colour. For the blessing of God upon purity is in the Virgin’s blushes. For the blessing of God in colour is on him that keeps his virgin. For I saw a blush in Staindrop Church, which was of God’s own colouring. For it was the benevolence of a virgin shewn to me before the whole congregation. For the blessing of God upon the grass is in shades of Green visible to a nice observer as they light upon the surface of the earth. For the blessing of God unto perfection in all bloom and fruit is by colouring.

Peter Leithart

Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.

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In Medias Res

Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.

Donate

Theopolis is nearly 100% donor-supported. Consider joining us on our mission.