From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordIndividually here means indivisibly or inseparably, rather than separately, one person at a time.
- In TraherneGod’s love for Himself and His love for creatures are individually one because divine simplicity forbids treating them as disconnected components.
- In this editionThe 2026 note to IV.65 glosses indivisibly.
- A place to beginDivine self-love and love of creatures are indivisibly one.
Meaning
Individually here means indivisibly or inseparably, rather than separately, one person at a time. The older sense can reverse a modern reader’s first understanding of the sentence.
Use in the book
God’s love for Himself and His love for creatures are individually one because divine simplicity forbids treating them as disconnected components. What seems a competition between divine self-love and concern for others is resolved as one loving act. The same adverb describes union with God and the inward presence of infinity to the soul. These contexts concern intimate cohesion, not isolated individualism. The practical result is joy, courage, and fidelity in duty: being united to God strengthens outward action rather than abolishing the created person.
Places to read
In this edition
The 2026 note to IV.65 glosses indivisibly. Its cross-reference to I.78 is not treated here as an additional occurrence of the exact adverb.
Source note
Primary text: IV.65, III.99, II.81; historical gloss: 2026 edition note to IV.65.