Centuries of Meditations - Enhanced Version

by Thomas Traherne

Psalm 19:1 reads, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." God displays his power in the immensity, complexity, and beauty of his creation. Thomas Traherne, in his Centuries of Meditations, showcases his deep love for God's creative powers. The poetry in Centuries has a childlike humility in the face of God's glory. While living at a time where God's wrath and humanity's sin were the main topics of theological conversation, Traherne writes poetry that looks at the beauty of God and his goodness. His poetry is not just good Christian poetry, but good poetry that is appreciated by Christian and secular poetry lovers alike.

Andrew Hanson
CCEL Writer

This edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, an index of scripture references, links for scripture references to the appropriate passages, and a hierarchical table of contents which makes it possible to navigate to any part of the book with a minimum of page turns.

Genres: Poetry, Theology, Religion, Philosophy, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1665

About the author

Thomas Traherne, MA (1636 or 1637 – ca. 27 September 1674) was an English poet, clergyman, theologian, and religious writer. Little information is known about his life. The intense, scholarly spirituality in his writings led to his being commemorated by the Anglican Church on 10 October (the anniversary of his death in 1674).

The work for which he is best known today is the Centuries of Meditations, a collection of short paragraphs in which he reflects on Christian life and ministry, philosophy, happiness, desire and childhood. This was first published in 1908 after having been rediscovered in manuscript ten years earlier. His poetry likewise was first published in 1903 and 1910 (The Poetical Works of Thomas Traherne, B.D. and Poems of Felicity). His prose works include Roman Forgeries (1673), Christian Ethics (1675), and A Serious and Patheticall Contemplation of the Mercies of God (1699).

Traherne's poetry is often associated with the metaphysical poets, even though his poetry was unknown for two centuries after his death. His manuscripts were kept among the private papers of the Skipps family of Ledbury, Herefordshire, until 1888. Then, in the winter of 1896–1897, two manuscript volumes containing his poems and meditations were discovered by chance for sale in a street bookstall. The poems were initially thought to be the work of Traherne's contemporary Henry Vaughan (1621–1695). Only through research was his identity uncovered and his work prepared for publication under his name. As a result, much of his work was not published until the first decade of the 20th century.

Traherne's writings frequently explore the glory of creation and what he perceived as his intimate relationship with God. His writing conveys an ardent, almost childlike love of God, and is compared to similar themes in the works of later poets William Blake, Walt Whitman, and Gerard Manley Hopkins. His love for the natural world is frequently expressed in his works by a treatment of nature that evokes Romanticism—two centuries before the Romantic movement.

Reviews

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful words. Equally beautiful thoughts.

In a way, I find Traherne to be the "same but totally different" counterpart to Emerson. They both talk about the self and nature and God and how beautiful everything is, but with Traherne I never feel like he's looking down on anyone. He just really loves what God has made. I also love how Traherne tells us to enjoy what God has given to us as a way of entering into communion with God and embracing our identities of being made in His image. God loves creation: we should too.

Traherne makes me love nature. And Traherne makes me feel loved by God.

I can't really describe Traherne very adequately. But he makes me feel encouraged in a deep and beautiful way.

[Scriptor Ignotus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rediscovery of this phenomenal work at the end of the nineteenth century offers us just assurance of the operation of a benevolent providence in the world. Joyful, sublime, and coruscating with a luminescent innocence, Traherne’s meditations make us rediscover the world through the eyes of childhood—the eyes of paradise—and to recognize both the mutual inherence of us in the world and the world in us, as well as the felicity to which we are called in the realization of our identities as Sons of God and reapers of souls. For Traherne, to inherit the Kingdom of God is only a matter of “know[ing] the world aright,”; recognizing the world itself and all therein as one’s own possession, a divine gratuity, and experiencing the profound, soul-stretching fulfillments that are bestowed on us as we help others do the same. The soteriological liberality of Traherne finds company with Śāntideva, his invincible optimism with Julian of Norwich, and his sensitivity to the intimate presence of God as our abiding friend and companion with Thomas à Kempis and The Cloud of Unknowing.

“Such Endless Depths lie in the Divinity, and the Wisdom of God, that as He maketh one, so He maketh every one the End of the World: the Supernumerary Persons being Enrichers of his Inheritance. Adam and the World are both mine. And the Posterity of Adam enrich it Infinitely. Souls are God's Jewels. Every one of which is worth many Worlds. They are his Riches because his Image; and mine for that reason. So that I alone am the End of the World. Angels and Men being all mine. And if others are so, they are made to Enjoy it for my further Advancement. God only being the Giver, and I the Receiver . . . God gave me alone to all the World, and all the World to me alone.”

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Centuries of Meditations is hard to read and hard to understand. Nevertheless, Traherne has identified truth that I have never elsewhere encountered in writing. In composing drafts of this review, I’ve repeatedly tried and failed to distill Traherne’s message to a pithy summary. Alas, my words are not equal to his. Let it be sufficient to say that Traherne perceives the generosity and thoughtfulness of God where most of us overlook it and that his appreciation of God is more comprehensive than most of us ever aspire to.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading through this -- although it would be difficult to summarize the overall flow. That said, there are many striking phrases and observations that were a real blessing. Traherne wrote in the 17th century, and is a somewhat obscure writer. Some years ago a student used him in his thesis and put me on to him, and I have been chipping away at this book since. Once I started reading him, I noticed others noticing him -- Lewis does, for example.

[Charles Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just absurd that classics like this go out of print. Grr. I have the Cosimo edition from 2007, maybe you can look on ABE Books, a book lovers internet source.
Heavenly. Traherne is heavenly. You don't have to be a Christian or to believe in God to appreciate Traherne, but Traherne was ordained in the Church of England. He evidently believed that God loved so he gave us a beautiful world full of useful and wonderful things. He also believed that if we don't enjoy the life that God gave us and the world that he gave us, that we are just being king of ungrateful.
His writing is wonderful, set in little comments, meant as daily meditations. There are three hundred meditations, or three centuries of daily thought, thus the title.

"You are as prone to love, as the sun is to shine;"

"For certainly he that delights not in Love makes vain the universe,"

"Few will believe the soul to be infinite: yet Infinite is the first thing which is naturally known."

It's English prose from the sixteenth century. If you can read Shakespeare in high school, this is easier. And it's well worth learning. Read one thought per day, three hundred will take about a year, considering that you'll forget some days, and go to church on Sundays.
Read the history of this book- it was not found and published till the first of the Twentieth Century- fascinating story.

A classic of the spirit and waiting to be discovered in each generation.

[Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent. Read slowly and often.

[Jessica Sacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An empty book is like an Infant's Soul, in which anything may be written. It is capable of all things, but containeth nothing. I have a mind to fill this with profitable wonders. And since Love made you put it into my hands I will fill it with those Truths you love without knowing them: and with those things which, if it be possible, shall shew my Love; to you, in communicating most enriching Truths: to Truth, in exalting her beauties in such a Soul."

Traherne is true to his word. A gift of overwhelming love and wonder. For anyone interested in devotional writing that is joyful, original, creative and intelligent, without sentimentality. Left me wondering whether such writing is still possible today; I think quite possibly not, and at any rate I have never read any contemporary religious writing that comes close.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit that I found this book (reading each entry in each century as a devotional) to be a bit frustrating at times. I just couldn't always get what was being said. Maybe my imagination is not sufficient. I also struggled at times to match the God being talked about with the God of the Bible, though of course other times it was spot on.

My motivation for reading this was That C S Lewis liked this book. But of course he was a far greater scholar of Literature than I.

So some worthwhile material but not really for me :)

[Fred Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I added this to the Torrey curriculum on a lark several years ago, and it's been the gift that keeps on giving. Every reading is a delight. The Kessinger reprint is barely adequate, let's have a new one.

[Timothy Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great consolation and encouragement.

[Bobby Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the few books that deserves to be called beautiful. It is a natural extension of the book of Psalms while also elevating God’s gift of nature and His sacrifice for us. It may seem like a small book able to be read quickly, but I recommend digesting it slowly and reading it over the course of a month or longer. Do not be fooled by the short page count. There is more in this book than any other I have read and I will return to it in the future to appreciate all I have missed on my first read.

[Will Davis]

RIP the Anglican Church

[Mary Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! It took me a while to read it, because you don’t read it quickly. There are things to ponder.
Many thanks to my sweet daughter for the present.

[Nevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the difference between an influential book and and a favorite book? Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morals influenced me heavily and I think about it often, though it is not a book I would want buried in my casket. What level of acknowledgment can be given to a book while insisting it is not your favorite?

Centuries of Mediation is a book caught up in that question. When I was not trying to read it at 2am, it is it’s own fever dream of delights that expands oneself. Reading it makes the world feel and taste fresher; it makes a long stretch in the sun holy and a 10 minute late arrival to class look natural. The whole world is made for me, and that’s more then what Nietzsche can say about the purpose of man in the world.

Treherne is a man who knows he is living for happiness and that happiness requires an acknowledgment of what one can and can’t do with their senses and, more importantly, how the world touches you. The world brings you to love yourself and others. If you can not stare at a speck of sand longingly- if you cannot appreciate an empty space- if the common air itself brings not a feeling of felicity- you are misunderstanding the existence God created and the nature in which his nature created.

A book that thoroughly disrupts you and awakens new awareness's of life is worthy to keep in you bookshelf.

A book that is your favorite deserves to be displayed in prominent places.

This book is worth so much more, It deserves to be gifted with all its highlights, crease, and stains.

It is a book I would recommend every one to read the first 75 pages of and if you want to read it to the end, it has moved from influential to a favorite, and an author worthy of dinning out with friends at Cheesecake Factory.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up when I found a reference to it in the letters of C. S. Lewis ("For meditative and devotional reading (a little bit at a time, more like sucking a lozenge more than eating a slice of bread) I suggest the Imitation of Christ (astringent) and Traherne's Centuries of Meditations (joyous)"), and I wasn't disappointed. I had a hard time following it all the time (probably because I was "eating [it] like a slice of bread), but I ended up writing a one-line summary of each meditation to keep me on track.
The book reminds and teaches profoundly important doctrines of God and his relationship to him in a meandering way-- one that I really enjoyed. It had moments where concepts were driven home so well that I haven't found anywhere else.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As legend has it, the manuscript for this book was rescued in the late 1800s from a "barrow of books about to be trashed". It was eventually found to be by one Thomas Traherne, a fairly obscure English country priest writing in the 17th century.

The manuscript was published for the first time in 1908, five years after a collection of poems by Traherne, which saw him grouped with the so-called 'metaphysical poets' (Donne, Herbert, Vaughan etc). CS Lewis apparently called Centuries "almost the most beautiful book in English" (everything needs a quote from Lewis, right?).

Traherne was active during the time of the Restoration, and in fact his final gig (before dying in his late 30s, in 1674) was as private chaplain to Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Baronet, of Great Lever, the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal to King Charles II.

Centuries consists of four finished, and one unfinished, sets of 100 meditations each (hence the title) on theology and existence, and it glistens. Not all of it is easy reading, and there were a number of times that I thought, why do I do this to myself...? But when I look back at the passages I highlighted, there is some astonishing stuff there.

Traherne's mystical theology stems from profound childhood experiences of wonder (I'll include his description of that at the end), and a quest to get back there through contemplations of theology, philosophy and nature. His ideas centre around a radical appreciation of giftedness - that God is pouring out the whole of existence and beauty as a gift for the possession of every individual - and that happiness is a high calling, elevated to the concept of Felicity - a profound divine state, the epitome of happiness, as humans step into the fullness of being created in the image of God. That's my understanding anyway.

In case you're wondering, his perspective contains a lot of space for suffering and theologies of the cross, which I think is part of what rescues it from being glib, individualistic, feel-good nonsense. He's not interested in the baubles of luxury and wealth, he's always looking to something more commonplace (yet profound) and deeper. Another thing to mention is that despite his rootedness in nature (a feature that's had him described as a kind of proto-Romantic) he is still very wary of the body. This I think is a factor of the theological orthodoxy of the time and, I guess, neoplatonism (which he is very into and which forms much of the philosophical underpinnings of the work).

But the basic premise the book, this looking at existence and nature through wonder and giftedness, is very infectious. As are his intellectual explorations and the charms of a 17th century cultural setting. It was a time of great flourishing of literature, and a milieu that gave birth to all sorts of ideas, exploration and discovery within culture and Christianity - the great diversification that continued on from the Reformation.

The book was a stimulating intellectual exercise, but the core thing, and the thing that Traherne most desires to communicate, is this different way of seeing, of being in the world and all the spheres of the cosmos, time and space. And that perspective shift is the thing I most want to hold onto.

I'll leave you with the most famous passage from the book, his memory of the wonder of seeing that he experienced as a child...

"The corn was orient and immortal wheat, which never should be reaped, nor was ever sown. I thought it had stood from everlasting to everlasting. The dust and stones of the street were as precious as gold: the gates were at first the end of the world. The green trees when I saw them first through one of the gates transported and ravished me, their sweetness and unusual beauty made my heart to leap, and almost mad with ecstasy, they were such strange and wonderful things: The Men! O what venerable and reverend creatures did the aged seem! Immortal Cherubims! And young men glittering and sparkling Angels, and maids strange seraphic pieces of life and beauty! Boys and girls tumbling in the street, and playing, were moving jewels. I knew not that they were born or should die; But all things abided eternally as they were in their proper places. Eternity was manifest in the Light of the Day, and something infinite behind everything appeared which talked with my expectation and moved my desire. The city seemed to stand in Eden, or to be built in Heaven. The streets were mine, the temple was mine, the people were mine, their clothes and gold and silver were mine, as much as their sparkling eyes, fair skins and ruddy faces. The skies were mine, and so were the sun and moon and stars, and all the World was mine; and I the only spectator and enjoyer of it. I knew no churlish proprieties, nor bounds, nor divisions: but all proprieties and divisions were mine: all treasures and the possessors of them. So that with much ado I was corrupted, and made to learn the dirty devices of this world. Which now I unlearn, and become, as it were, a little child again that I may enter into the Kingdom of God."

- The Third Century, Meditation 3

Highlighted: "Eternity was manifest in the Light of the Day, and something infinite behind everything appeared which talked with my expectation and moved my desire."

[Evan Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I am the first poet on Goodreads to read this. So far, I'd say it's important for those who read the Metaphysical poets, of which Traherne was one.

[Samuel Hilgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lewis spoke of Traherne as having written one of the most beautiful English prose in history. I suppose this is quite a complement, not simply by virtue of words, but by virtue of the man who said them. Even if my complements could surpass the words of Lewis, they will never have come from a greater soul than him. Yet, I suppose we would both (Lewis and I) say that Traherne was an even greater soul than ourselves.

Traherne speaks of a world that is far more real than our own. He speaks of water and earth as if they were gods and nymphs. The son and moon as if they were our soul and spirit. He speaks of a world enchanted with the beauty of God---a world that is far truer than ourselves precisely because it is the only world in which our true selves exist. Behold the wonders of our world! The wonders of joy! The wonders of a God which created us to delight and in which we are His object of delight! O how marvelous is the world we live in, but how faulty our gaze.

It is this gaze, this unhuman gaze, which taints our experience of a world made good. This film which covers our eyes and makes us blind requires dirt and divine touch to be restored. It is fair to say that Traherne offers the glory of dirt and leads us to the divine touch. Read and be renewed. Read and see that the Lord is good. Read, and become as Traherne is: one who loves Love Himself.

[Aaron Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Insatiableness is good, but not ingratitude.”

“The world is a mirror of infinite beauty…”

“…want [is] the parent of Celestial Treasure.”

“…the World is both a Paradise and a Prison to different persons.”

“[The World] is the temple wherein you are exalted to glory and honor, and the visible porch or gate of Eternity.”

“They love a creature for sparkling eyes and curled hair, lily breasts and ruddy cheeks: which they should love moreover for being God's Image, Queen of the Universe, beloved by Angels, redeemed by Jesus Christ, an heiress of Heaven, and temple of the Holy Ghost: a mine and fountain of all virtues, a treasury of graces, and a child of God. But these excellencies are unknown. They love her perhaps, but do not love God more: nor men as much: nor Heaven and Earth at all.”

“You are as prone to love, as the sun is to shine; it being the most delightful and natural employment of the Soul of Man without which you are dark and miserable.”

“…all inclinations and desires in the soul flow from and tend to the satisfaction of goodness. ‘Tis strange that an excess of goodness should be the fountain of all evil…. For men being mistaken in the nature of Felicity… follow a multitude to do evil.”

“…our misery proceedeth ten thousand times more from the outward bondage of opinion and custom, than from any inward corruption or depravation of Nature.”

“God made man greater while He made him less. …
The ocean bounded in a finite shore,
Is better far because it is no more.”

“Knowledge, Life and Love are the very means of all enjoyment.”

“He that thinks the Heavens and the Earth not his, can hardly use them; and he that thinks the sons of men impertinent to his joy and happiness can scarcely love them.”

“…that by our own actions we should be well pleasing to Thee, is the greatest Felicity Nature can contain.”

“…a love to others stronger than what we bear to ourselves, is the mother of all the heroic actions that have made histories pleasant, and beautified the world.”

[Emma R. Pilcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot do this masterpiece justice, so I’ll leave it at this: Traherne speaks grace and truth that stirs the souls while bringing conviction of sin. This would be great to read as a devotional type book. Its prayers and meditations are beautiful and reverent. For being an obscure and largely unread author, his writing seems more approachable than other early English Protestant works.

I love how Traherne expressed the idea that God gave us the ease of thinking, but we caused the difficulty of thinking well.

[Suzan Cumings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lewis spoke truth when he called this ‘almost the most beautiful book… in English.’ I think every Christian could profit from reading it.

"You never enjoy the world aright, till the Sea itself floweth in your veins, till you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars: and perceive yourself to be the sole heir of the whole world, and more than so, because men are in it who are every one sole heirs as well as you."

[Carys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow read, but inspired. Deepened my reflections, and connect with how I feel. Valued read of someone writing years ago but connecting with how I feel today. For me reflections and deepening reflections on God and nature. I listened on Audible, think if read it may have given up or just dipped into it, however found myself wanting to underline passages and bookmark places.

[Hank · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simply could not concentrate while attempting to read this.

Many praise it so problem is most likely with me and my poor appreciation for poetry and comprehension of theology.

What I could absorb came off more as pleasantries than revelations.

I gave up trying after 20 pages or so and cannot recommend to anyone else.

[orion g green · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a tightly written celebration of Life in God and the glory
of being God's family and the absolute loveliness of creation. Not an easy read. I found myself out of breath spiritually trying to stay up with him.

[Pollymoore3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Can you take too much joy in your Father's works? He is himself in everything."
"Your enjoyment of the world is never right , till every morning you awake in Heaven; see yourself in your Father's Palace; and look upon the skies, the earth, and the air as celestial joys".

[Daniel Klawitter]

"Certainly Adam in Paradise had not more sweet and curious apprehensions of the world, than I when I was a child...my very ignorance was advantageous...All Time was Eternity, and a perpetual Sabbath."

[Rebeca Paraiso · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book. It brings me peace and it talks about God in such a beautiful, poetic and truthful way. I love Thomas’ perspective and understanding. So much wisdom in the way he manages to put in words what I never could.
I absolutely love this book.

[Luke Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. It’s so theologically dense, and it begs for rereads. Each read-through of this book reveals just a little more of Traherne’s beautiful poetical writing.

This is truly one of the finest volumes in all of Christian-Romanticism.

[Terry Earley]

recommended by Terryl and Theona Givins

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A work of deep, creation-affirming spirituality; a training manual for what Schmemann said: “The Christian is the one who, wherever he looks, finds Christ and rejoices in him.”