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Chad's Reviews > Centuries of Meditations
Centuries of Meditations
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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.
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.
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Quotes Chad Liked
“That anything may be found to be in infinite treasure, its place must be found in Eternity and in God's esteem. For as there is a time, so there is a place for all things. Everything in its place is admirable, deep, and glorious; out of its place like a wandering bird, is desolate and good for nothing.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“Therefore of necessity they must at first believe that Felicity is a glorious though an unknown thing. And certainly it was the infinite wisdom of God that did implant by instinct so strong a desire of Felicity in the Soul, that we might be excited to labour after it, though we know it not, the very force wherewith we covet it supplying the place of understanding. That there is a Felicity, we all know by the desires after, that there is a most glorious Felicity we know by the strength and vehemence of those desires.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“Now to enjoy the treasures of God in the similitude of God, is the most perfect blessedness God could devise. For the treasures of God are the most perfect treasures, and the manner of God is the most perfect manner.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“It is a good thing to be happy alone. It is better to be happy in company, but good to be happy alone. Men owe me the advantage of their society, but if they deny me that just debt, I will not be unjust to myself, and side with them in bereaving me. I will not be discouraged, lest I be miserable for company. More company increases happiness, but does not lighten or diminish misery.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“To think the world therefore a general Bedlam, or place of madmen, and oneself a physician, is the most necessary point of present wisdom: an important imagination, and the way to Happiness.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“Love studies not to be scanty in its measures, but how to abound and overflow with benefits. He that pinches and studieth to spare is a pitiful lover, unless it be for other's sakes Love studieth to be pleasing, magnificent and noble, and would in all things be glorious and divine unto its object. Its whole being is to its object, and its whole felicity in its object, and it hath no other thing to take care for. It doth good to its own soul while it doth good for another.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“Objects are so far from diminishing, that they magnify the faculties of the soul beholding them. A sand in your conception conformeth your soul, and reduceth it to the size and similitude of a sand, A tree apprehended is a tree in your mind; the whole hemisphere and the heavens magnify your soul to the wideness of the heavens; all the spaces above the heavens enlarge it wider to their own dimensions. And what is without limit maketh your conception illimited and endless.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“That That a man is beloved of God, should melt him all into esteem and holy veneration. It should make him so courageous as an angel of God. It should make him delight in calamities and distresses for God's sake. By giving me all things else, He hath made even afflictions themselves my treasures. The sharpest trials, are the finest furbishing. the most tempestuous weather is the best seed-time. A Christian is an oak flourishing in winter. God hath so magnified and glorified His servant, and exalted him so highly in His eternal bosom, that no other joy should be able to move us but that alone.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“Should God give you worlds, and laws, and treasures, and worlds upon worlds, and Himself also in the Divinest manner, if you will be lazy and not meditate, you lose all. The soul is made for action, and cannot rest till it be employed. Idleness is its rust. Unless it will up and think and taste and see, all is in vain.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
“The smallest thing by the influence of eternity is made infinite and eternal. We pass through a standing continent or region of ages, that are already ebfore us, glorious and perfect while we come to them. Like men in a ship we pass forward, the shores and marks seeming to go backward, though we move and they stand still. We are not with them in our progressive motion, but prevent the swiftness of our course, and are present with them in our understandings. Like the sun we dart our rays before us, and occupy those spaces with light and contemplation which we move towards, but possess not with our bodies. And seeing all things in the light of Divine knowledge, eternally serving God, rejoice unspeakable in that service, and enjoy it all.”
― Centuries of Meditations
― Centuries of Meditations
Reading Progress
June 23, 2015
–
Started Reading
June 23, 2015
– Shelved
June 23, 2015
–
48.0%
July 6, 2015
–
50.0%
July 7, 2015
–
69.0%
"Third Century. The author takes us through a few experiences as a child. It reminds you of the simple and clear understanding children have, and that we adults overcomplicate things sometimes."
Started Reading
(Kindle Edition)
July 9, 2015
– Shelved
(Kindle Edition)
July 9, 2015
–
Finished Reading
(Kindle Edition)
July 9, 2015
–
Finished Reading
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Marti
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Oct 03, 2015 07:41AM
Can you tell me which of Lewis's letters this quote is from, and where it is available? Thanks.
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The quote is from Lewis's third volume of letters, which I have as a Kindle Ebook. The book is searchable, and if you put in a portion of the quote from my review, it should find it no problem. Or just search "Centuries of Meditations."
Thank you so much. I see that Ohio State's main library has a print copy so I will try to go there to look it up rather than buy the Kindle edition. I want to be able to give the reference in a short talk I am giving next week.
