poraneous prayer-a system, to which it is well known, a large body of the Clergy and a far greater of the people, have from the force of habit and education, imbibed a decided objection.

Prayer is that converse which God has allowed us to maintain with himself above, while we are here below. It is that language wherein a creature holds correspondence with his Creator, and wherein the soul of the true Christian gets near to God-is entertained with great delight, and, as it were, dwells with his heavenly Father for a short season before he goes to heaven.

Surely, in such a high and holy intercourse there should be, on our part, the most profound reverence of soul, and the utmost composure of mind. Now when we consider what men ordinarily are, how difficult it is in prayer to fix the attention upon the sole object of worship; and how much the presence of a congregation is calculated to occupy the thoughts; we cannot wonder that it should sometimes happen, that the minister engaged in extemporaneous prayer should become confused-forget what he is about to say, and after several fruitless attempts to recollect his matter -at length conclude with something widely different

In order to remedy this and other inconveniences, which seem necessarily to be connected with public extemporaneous prayer, and to supply the Clergy with a variety of Collects, suited to special festivals, and to most of those interesting topics which form the subject matter of pulpit discussion; the writer of this little work has for some time past been industriously employed in composing and collecting a large quantity of suitable matter, for an almost indefinite number; and having sent the following, as a specimen of the whole; should they meet with a favourable reception, he pledges himself that another work of the same kind, but on a much larger scale, shall be speedily forthcoming.

It may not be improper to observe, that the idea of such a work being a sort of desideratum among the Clergy, was first suggested to the mind of the writer by a clergyman.

Most of them have already been used in MS. by a few clergymen, friends of the writer, with much comfort to themselves, and great acceptance to their congregations.

It has been the ardent desire and humble endeavour of the writer, to preserve in these compositions something of the dignity and antiquity of style for which the Collects in the Book of Common Prayer are so remarkable; and should they on this account appear, to any, to have an appearance of stiffness, or undue formality, he begs to suggest, that any Clergyman who may resolve on using them, may easily render them more suitable to his own peculiar taste, by adding a short sentence or two, or by some other slight alterations, whilst the ground work of the Collects, so altered or lengthened, would remain the same.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psm. li. 10.

COLLECT.

No. 1.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God,--sovereign Ruler of all things,-Lord of Lords and King of Kings, --unto whom alone belong worship, adoration, thanksgiving, and praise; before thy throne we prostrate ourselves in deep reverence and humility, beseeching thee to look in mercy upon us, to powerfully act upon us by thy Holy Spirit, to the renewal of our hearts, the sanctification of our lives, and the salvation of our souls, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who hath taught us to pray to thee, as, Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

B

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.— John xv. 7.

COLLECT.
No. 2.

O THOU, that regardest them that call upon thee faithfully, and who hast promised everlasting joy and mercy to them that abide in thy fear and love; grant unto us, we beseech thee, the true spirit of devotion, that we may be fitted to receive the things we ask, believing in the atonement of Christ, as the condition of our acceptance with thee, and of our eternal happiness. Give us a sensible impression of our interest in his blood, and keep us constant and devout in thy worship. Give us lively impressions of thy perpetual presence with us and inspection over us, that we may walk in the way that pleaseth thee, and at last be admitted to thy heavenly kingdom, when faith shall be turned into vision, and hope into enjoyment, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who hath taught us to call