Came across this letter where John Newton warns about hot air “balloon mania.”
I durst not, therefore, upon my principles have accompanied Mr Lunardi in his late balloon expedition. I looked after him in his flight, with a mixture of admiration and compassion. How great the hazard, how poor the motives. A strange creature man is, his powers of invention, the ardour and enterprise of his spirit bespeak his original, but the misapplication of his powers loudly proclaim his depravity. He is continually making new discoveries, but to the need, and worth, and way of salvation he is blind and insensible. If gain or the applause of his fellow creatures be his prospect, he will venture the greatest risk, and expose himself to the greatest hardship, but a happiness suited to his nature and the approbation of God, are disregarded as trifles, unworthy of his pursuit. I was glad to hear that Mr Lunardi was again safe upon terra firma, but I hear he is meditating a new excursion and that many others animated by his success are eager to follow his example. I fear this balloon mania will not subside till some awful events put a stop to it. The Philosophers I am told are sanguine in their expectations of making this new art of flying more generally practicable, but I believe and hope they will not succeed. We are bad enough already, but were it possible for men to transport themselves at their pleasure through the air, how greatly would the mischiefs and missions of human life be multiplied. As the providence of God is concerned in all events, there must I think be some ends to be answered by this discovery and these attempts in the balloon way, but at present I can only moralize upon them. I would learn in the first place not to be peremptory in determining what is or what is not impossible. A while ago it would have been thought impossible for a man to travel through the air. Many things which at present appear equally inconceivable may in time be easy, for who can say what secret powers may be in the course of nature. The effects of gunpowder and of electricity were unknown for ages. Again, I observe, how preposterous is the judgment of men; a person is talked of and admired by thousands for venturing up with a balloon, though it is a mere point of curiosity, not likely to be productive of any benefit, while he who came down from Heaven to dwell for a time with men, and to die for them is slighted and disregarded. (John Newton to the Earl of Dartmouth, 22 September 1784)
There is a very similar paragraph in another of his letters dated a few days before this one, where he refers to it as a “new epidemical disorder” and a “disease.”
I know our immediate response is to say, “What a luddite, a curmudgeon! This didn’t age well. Hasn’t God used aeronautics for his glory? Doesn’t he realize technological advancements are good for man?” And yet, I find Newton’s pastoral concerns so refreshing. Imagine if Elon Musk gave a tenth of his tenacity to the care of his soul instead of to colonizing Mars?
We all know technology can be used for good and bad, and God is sovereign over all of it. But I find it interesting that (as far as I know) Newton didn’t advance technology in any way, and yet his hymn is sung all over the world today.