Skip to Main Content
Have library access? Log in through your library
The Works of Thomas Traherne I

The Works of Thomas Traherne I: Inducements to Retirednes, A Sober View of Dr Twisses his Considerations, Seeds of Eternity or the Nature of the Soul, The Kingdom of God

Edited by JAN ROSS
Series: Works of Thomas Traherne
Copyright Date: 2005
Edition: NED - New edition
Published by: Boydell and Brewer,
Pages: 598
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7722/j.ctt9qdjs7
Search for reviews of this book
  • Cite this Item
  • Book Info
    The Works of Thomas Traherne I
    Book Description:

    Thomas Traherne (1637?-1674), a clergyman of the Church of England during the Restoration, was little known until the early twentieth century, when his poetry and Centuries of Meditations were discovered. Although his reputation as a metaphysical poet in the tradition of Donne and Herbert has grown since then, there have only been miscellaneous publications of his poetry and devotional writings, with much of his output still unpublished. The Works of Thomas Traherne brings together all of Traherne's extant works in a definitive, printed edition for the first time, with the purpose of giving a sense of the manuscript or printed originals. His works not published in print will be edited by manuscript insofar as possible, giving due attention to their physical aspects and to their integrity as manuscript books. The text of Traherne's works will be printed in seven volumes, with an eighth volume of commentary, and a further volume of his notebooks. This first volume makes available in print four treatises contained in a single manuscript recently discovered in 1997 at Lambeth Palace Library. While they bear the stamp of Traherne's unique character of thought and writing, they are diverse in subject and form. Traherne wrote against a background of scepticism as well as a growing atheism. These four works show him to be profoundly aware of the currents of his age, theological, political, sociological and scientific, to which he responded with thoughtful and imaginative insights. They show him also to be a compelling apologist for the Christian religion and for the goodness of the church. This much needed and important edition of the works of Thomas Traherne makes a valuable contribution not only to Traherne studies but also to seventeenth-century studies in general.

    eISBN: 978-1-84615-440-9
    Subjects: Language & Literature

Table of Contents

  1. Front Matter
    (pp. i-iv)
  2. Table of Contents
    (pp. v-vi)
  3. List of Plates
    (pp. vii-viii)
  4. General Preface
    (pp. ix-x)
  5. Acknowledgements
    (pp. xi-xi)
  6. Abbreviations
    (pp. xii-xii)
  7. Introduction
    (pp. xiii-2)

    Thomas Traherne (1637?–1674) was one of many conforming clergy who grew up during the Civil War and who were at university during the Interregnum. In 1657, a year after completing his B.A. at Oxford, he was admitted to the rectory at Credenhill, Herefordshire, by the Commissioners for the Approbation of Public Preachers; he later briefly served also as chaplain to Sir Orlando Bridgeman, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Charles II. In 1660 Traherne conformed to the Church of England and was a part of the group of young men to whom the church looked for definition and...

  8. Inducements to Retirednes
    (pp. 3-44)

    In this Introduction the pious Soul is Invited unto Retirement from the World for the better Introversion of Spirit to Consider and enjoy those Devine Objects heer presented, and delineated to it: For Every thing Rests most Composedly in its Proper place, and the Soul of Man is not in its Proper place, till it be sweetly disposed and Composed for Devine Enjoyments.¹

    To begin that which is Infinit and Eternal, is proper only to God. Who without Beginning gav Him self a Being from Everlasting. But to see that which is Infinit and Eternal, is the Priviledge of His...

  9. A Sober View of Dr Twisses his Considerations
    (pp. 45-230)

    Dr Twisse denies Hoords State of the Question, and mends it thus. Wheras Hoord Saith, The Decrees of GOD are touching the Everlasting Condition of Men; Dr Twisse rather thinks the Resolution of the Point depends upon GODS Purpose touching Grace Efficacious. As namely, if Faith be confessed to be the Gift of GOD, it followeth here hence that Predestination to Faith, and Reprobation from Faith, Proceed meerly from the Good Pleasure of GOD, and not upon Foresight of ought in Man. Twisse Lib. 1. contr. Hoord. pag. 2.¹

    1. Hence we may observe That Dr Twiss supposeth a Wide...

  10. Seeds of Eternity or The Nature of the Soul
    (pp. 231-252)

    Humanity, which is the Handmaid of true Divinity, is a noble Part of Learning, opening the best and rarest Cabinet in nature to us, that of our Selvs: Which it doth either by discovering the Excellencies of our Bodies, or the faculties of our Souls. together with the Graces and vices of either. It is highly desirable, not only for the Benefits which flow from thence in conversation, but because it unfoldeth infinit Mysteries, (in the most precious Repository of Divine Secrets, Humane Nature) and by the Demonstration of a most clear Reason, maketh manifest the Highest Articles of Christian...

  11. The Kingdom of God
    (pp. 253-554)

    God having from all Eternity in himself the Power of Reigning, and the desire of Exercising that power with Delight; he determined for the Glory of his goodness, the Manifestation of his Wisdom, and the Communication of his Blessedness; as well as for the Perfection of his power, in its use and Exaltation, to Creat a Dominion: And therupon he Constituted a Kingdom answerable to the Excellency of the King its Author, in the Perfection of its Beauty, Magnificence, Grandure, Duration, Glory.

    If we look into the Causes of this Kingdom, they are (as in Evry other Production, we find...

  12. Appendix ‘False start’ to The Kingdom of God
    (pp. 557-560)
  13. Fragment on ‘Love’
    (pp. 561-566)
  14. Glossary
    (pp. 567-571)
  15. Back Matter
    (pp. 572-572)