Why recent pious?

In the “Introduction” of Malfuzat e kamalat e Ashrafiya it is stated;

‘The sayings of the recent pious predecessors are most beneficial in reformation of heart (qalb) and cleansing of the lower self (nafs). This is because of the peculiar conditions, temperaments, preferences and capabilities of these recent pious being relatively familiar to the reader.

Ma’arif al-Akabir, page 47