Preface

...has called, which are hidden from the wise and the self-willed righteous original: "Eigenheits-vollen Gerechten"; this refers to individuals who, though outwardly "righteous," remain full of their own ego, intellectual pride, and self-will rather than being surrendered to God.

Just as the manuscripts which were entrusted to us to be made known through printing also contain many other letters written by other no less enlightened persons—which also treat these same spiritual paths and had likewise not yet been made public through the press—it was believed right to publish these letters together with Mr. Bertot's writings. This is intended for the comfort and benefit of those who are so blessed and drawn by grace to run toward the death of their own self a central concept in Quietism and mysticism involving the "annihilation" of the ego to make room for the divine with all faithfulness, and through such death, to strive for pure union and the enjoyment of God even in this life.

From this, one will be able to judge why these writings have been given the title of a Mystical Director original: "Directeur Mistique"; a title for a spiritual guide who leads souls through the "hidden" or mystical inner life (that is, a guide in mystical theology original: "geheimen Gottes-Gelehrtheit"; literally "secret divinity-scholarship," the standard 18th-century German term for the study of direct spiritual experience of God). These have been divided into four volumes; the first of these contains various explanations and treatises by Mr. Bertot, which deal with...