Preface

those inner paths and the prayer of faith original: "Gebät des Glaubens"; in mystical tradition, this refers to a contemplative state of "quiet" where the soul rests in God's presence without active thought or ritual; in the second and third volumes, one finds the spiritual letters of this same author referring to Mr. Bertot mentioned on the previous page, which likewise deal with the aforementioned inner paths; the fourth volume contains a collection of various spiritual letters from several authors whose names are unknown, as well as several letters from the venerable Father Maurus of the Child Jesus original: "Pater Maur vom Kind JESU"; 1617–1669, a French Discalced Carmelite and influential mystical writer of the Carmelite Order, who is well known for his excellent treatise (The Entrance to Divine Wisdom, original French: "L'Entrée à la Divine Sageſſe, compriſe en pluſieurs traités ſpirituels, qui contiennent les Secrets de la Theologie Miſtique &c." comprised of several spiritual tracts containing the Secrets of Mystical Theology, etc.); and finally, some letters from Madame Guyon, who is famous for a great number of spiritual writings that provide excellent guidance for the inner life.

All these small treatises and letters included in these volumes were printed from such copies as were prepared and corrected with all possible faithfulness to the originals; indeed, Madame Guyon herself held a large portion of them in her hands and reviewed them.