"[I]t follows that the most direct and natural Way for the discovery of Truth, is, instead of going abroad for Intelligence, to retire into our selves, and there with humble and silent Attention, both to consult and receive the Answers of interior Truth, even that Divine Master which teaches in the School of the Breast"
— Norris, John (1657-1712)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for S. Manship; and W. Hawes
Date
1701, 1704
Metaphor
"[I]t follows that the most direct and natural Way for the discovery of Truth, is, instead of going abroad for Intelligence, to retire into our selves, and there with humble and silent Attention, both to consult and receive the Answers of interior Truth, even that Divine Master which teaches in the School of the Breast"
Metaphor in Context
... By the Manner of Study here as a distinct Head of Division from the rest, I understand those Means and Ways which are to be used in this Application: Which in general are these two, Reading (under which I comprehend also Conversation with the Learned, there being a reading of Men as well as Books) and Thinking, or private Meditation; But chiefly the latter of these: For since, according to the Principles of this Theory, Ideas and Ideal Truths (the true objects of our Study) are within our selves, by reason of that Union which we naturally have with the Divine Word or Wisdom, the universal Reason of all Spirits; it follows that the most direct and natural Way for the discovery of Truth, is, instead of going abroad for Intelligence, to retire into our selves, and there with humble and silent Attention, both to consult and receive the Answers of interior Truth, even that Divine Master which teaches in the School of the Breast. According to that Admonition of St. Austin, who advises that we should not go abroad, but rather enter into our [End Page 572] selves, and that for this very reason, because Truth has her Habitant in the inner Man. Nolie foras ire, in te ipsum redi, in interiore homine habitat veritas.
Provenance
Searching "interiority" in OED and ECCO.
Citation
At least 3 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1701, 1704, 1722). [Part 2 published in 1704].
An Essay Towards the Theory of the Ideal or Intelligible World. Design'd for Two Parts. The First Considering It Absolutely in It Self, and the Second in Relation to Human Understanding. Part 1. by John Norris, Rector of Bemerton, Near Sarum. (London: Printed for S. Manship, at the Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal-Exchange; and W. Hawes, at the Rose in Ludgate-Street near the West-End of St. Paul’s Church, 1701). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO><Link to Vol. I in Google Books><Link to Vol. II in Google Books>
An Essay Towards the Theory of the Ideal or Intelligible World. Design'd for Two Parts. The First Considering It Absolutely in It Self, and the Second in Relation to Human Understanding. Part 1. by John Norris, Rector of Bemerton, Near Sarum. (London: Printed for S. Manship, at the Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal-Exchange; and W. Hawes, at the Rose in Ludgate-Street near the West-End of St. Paul’s Church, 1701). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO><Link to Vol. I in Google Books><Link to Vol. II in Google Books>
Theme
Interiority; Augustine
Date of Entry
05/31/2006
