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The Works of Thomas Traherne from The Kingdom of God
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2015
Cap. i.
OF GODS Kingdom: that it is but one Monarchy, tho consisting of Several Territories. A Digression Concerning its Incomprehensibleness.
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 them) four: The Efficient, the Material, the Formal, and the Final. The Efficient and the final Cause is God himself; the Material Cause is the Matter of which the Kingdom consisteth; which is two fold; the Territories, and the Subjects which Inhabit them; the Formal Cause is made up of those Laws by which, and that form of Government under which, the subjects are ruled: The Condition of the Subjects, their Relation unto God the King, the Distribution of Rewards and punishments The other Circumstances of their Lives and Actions, being herunto annexed:
One Efficient Cause guiding all things in all Worlds to one End, makes the Kingdom one. God being an Infinit and Eternal King, in whose sublime and perfect Empire, all Nations, and Kingdoms flourish, (as So many Cities and Countries doe in any one of those limited and Inferior Realms) which are all but so many provinces of his Care and Government: Kings themselvs being his Deputies and Vicegerents in their Dominions; for, being Entrusted with his power, and regulated by his Laws, they are more Eminently Subject to his Will and pleasure; and must render an account to him of their Actions, by whom they were Crowned with that Honor, and to whom they owe the Whole Benefit of their high Advancement.
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