AUTHOR’S PREFACE

However, since not all learned men were proficient in French original: "Gallice scientes", excerpts were subsequently taken from that book. First, those things which had been said more generally in its preface concerning Mystical Theology were selected, while more specific points or those relating to controversial matters were left out. Next, the entire final part of that same book, the Letter on the Characteristics of Mystics original: "Characteribus Mysticorum Epistola", was included. These are the very works which, as I mentioned at the start of this preface, were translated into Latin and published anonymously literally "with the name suppressed" under the title: A Shorter Concept of Peaceful and Mystical Theology, and of its Authors; for the benefit of the Learned who desire a succinct and yet solid and fruitful exposition of Theological and Spiritual matters without extensive reading. Indeed, as I advised in that same work, I am now restoring these pieces here, made more complete with annotations and additions, even within the Catalogue original: "Catalogo"; likely referring to a list of mystical authors or works itself.

I hope these will suffice for the purpose I have undertaken: namely, first, that those who wish to judge Mystical Theology the study of direct, experiential union with the Divine may draw from this work the knowledge required to judge it, at least in a general way, and from there draw—