« back to search

"There is nothing more certain, that that there are two Kinds of Conviction, one flowing from a sudden and violent breaking-in of Truth, when the Understanding is as it were taken by Storm, and a Man's whole System of Thinking is changed in an Instant: the other a gradual, gentle, and slow stealing-in of Light, when the Judgment is as it were carried Inch by Inch, which however ends like the former, in an absolute Revolution."

— Anonymous; [Lyttleton]

Author

Anonymous; [Lyttleton]

Work Title

A discourse on Providence: being an essay to prove that this doctrine, as it is delivered in the Gospel, is a demonstration of the divine original of the Christian dispensation

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for R. Dodsley; and sold by M. Cooper

Date

1748

Metaphor

"There is nothing more certain, that that there are two Kinds of Conviction, one flowing from a sudden and violent breaking-in of Truth, when the Understanding is as it were taken by Storm, and a Man's whole System of Thinking is changed in an Instant: the other a gradual, gentle, and slow stealing-in of Light, when the Judgment is as it were carried Inch by Inch, which however ends like the former, in an absolute Revolution."

Metaphor in Context

35. But the Parable convinces more than the Argument. It represents to us Things instead of Ideas, and affects the Mind by a Picture rather than a Description in Words. This was suited to a numerous Audience of different Capacities and various Judgments, as well as the Subject, for every one could remember and reflect on the Parable; whereas few could have retained or carried away a whole Discourse. But there is nothing fallacious, nothing scenical or fictitious in this Parable, which will not hold when reduced to a Discourse. We have just seen the contrary of that, by actually translating it into the Language of Philosophy. I have taken notice of this to shew, that though our LORD (which is one strong Proof of his Divinity) preached to the Vulgar, yet his Doctrine would bear the Examination of the Sages. He spoke to the MANY, but in Terms that deserved the Admiration of the FEW. There is nothing more certain, that that there are two Kinds of Conviction, one flowing from a sudden and violent breaking-in of Truth, when the Understanding is as it were taken by Storm, and a Man's whole System of Thinking is changed in an Instant: the other a gradual, gentle, and slow stealing-in of Light, when the Judgment is as it were carried Inch by Inch, which however ends like the former, in an absolute Revolution. Our LORD uses both Methods at once, in order to fit his Disciples for their Duty, to open their Eyes, to extend their Views, to extirpate Prejudices, to make every Man's Mind a rasa Tabula, or as his own Phrase is, to make plain the Ways of the LORD. This was the true, the sole, the genuine Way of proceeding; for while carnal Desires, and such an over-weening Passion for Riches remained, their Breasts were barren Grounds, and thereby most unfit to receive the Seed of Divine Truths.
(p. 24)