Select Library of Mystics

TO THE READERS.

—draw original: "haurire"; this completes the sentence from the previous page as much as is necessary; and so avoid that manner of acting—unworthy of a learned man, or even of the most humble layman—by which some, even among quite haughty theologians, have dared and still dare to pass judgment on that Theology with blind impulse. This they do despite being so unrefined and ignorant of the subject that they mistake an entirely different Theology—namely, Allegorical or Symbolic theologies based on interpreting metaphors or outward signs rather than direct experience—for Mystical Theology, much like taking a cloud for Juno original: "nubem pro Junone"; a classical reference to the myth of Ixion, who was deceived by a cloud shaped like the goddess Juno, here meaning to mistake a phantom or surface-level image for the reality.

Furthermore, as for the second and principal part of my proposal: if any should feel themselves in some way inclined toward this Theology, they may learn here where, or in which Authors, those things may be found which can be of help and benefit to anyone.

I do not promise a complete treatise on mystical matters; nor do I promise a History or a universal Library Bibliothecam universalem; a comprehensive bibliography or catalog of all books on a subject of these matters or of the Mystical Authors themselves. Instead, I offer a most general and brief demonstration or mention of the former; while of the latter—