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Having, contrary  to  the  ordinary  practice,  translated  this  work from the  French  copy,  rather  than  from  the  original  itself,  it  is proper  to  inform  the  reader,  that  I  do  so,  yielding  to  the  reasons and authority  of  competent  judges,  who  understand  perfectly  the French, Spanish,  and  English  languages. They told  me,  were they to  translate  Rodriguez,  they  would  be  better  pleased  to follow  the  French  copy  of  Mors,  des  Marais,  than  the  Spanish original 1st,  Because  the  style  of  M.  des  Marais'  translation is more  even  than  that  of  the  Spanish  original,  a  circumstance which indeed  cannot  be  wondered  at,  as  the  author  wrote  at different  and  distant  periods. 2dly, Because  the  French  approaches nearer  than  the  Spanish  to  the  English  idiom. It is to  the  observations  of  those  competent  judges  I  am  indebted, not only  for  the  first  idea  I  conceived  of  undertaking  this  work, but likewise  for  the  preference  I  gave  the  French  copy.

While engaged  in  translating  it  I  had  the  advantage  of seriously  and  frequently  perusing  this  book:  and,  as  usually happens to  those  who  peruse  works  of  merit,  the  oftener  I  read, the more  I  admired  it. Besides, the  abilities,  experience,  and application of  M.  des  Marais,  who,  in  France,  is  admitted  to be  one  of  the  most  eminent  critics  of  the  age,  will  certainly  give his translation  ,more  than  ordinary  celebrity. Having thus stated the  reasons  of  my  own  undertaking,  I  will  proceed  to  give the following  account  of  the  Author's  Work  and  Life,  extracted from the  Preface  of  M.  des  Marais.

Lest, says  he,  the  Author's  Dedicatory  Epistle  to  the  Fathers of the  Society  should  not  convey  such  idea  of  his  work  as  to display  fully  its  merits  and  excellence,  I  shall  add  this  short eulogy: — It abounds  in  most  solid  principles  of  Christian morality — it is  written  with  that  spirit  and  unction  which  characterize the  scriptures  and  the  writings  of  the  holy  fathers. It is  historical  and  learned — it  is  eminently  calculated  to  conduct all sorts  of  persons  both  to  and  in  the  way  of  perfection. Here the man  of  learning,  who  wishes  to  be  guided  by  the  great