I take this opportunity of expressing my cordial thanks to the Rev. John Henry Blunt, Author of "The Annotated Book of Common Prayer," and several other valuable theological works, for his communications with me on the subject of the Sealed Books, and on the existing Concordance to the Prayer Book; as also to the Rev. W. E. Buckley, Rector of Middleton Cheney, who has given me such assistance in some of the notes as I could not have obtained elsewhere; and to Miss Frederica Franks, who has most kindly undertaken the labour of a very copious and exhaustive index. As for Canon Bright's invaluable help, I cannot say how promptly and fully it has been accorded whenever I have sought for it. 14 LANSDOWNE PLACE, BRIGHTON, E. M. G. xii ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. IN preparing for the press a Second Edition of this work, I have carefully considered such published criticisms of the First Edition as have been brought under my notice, and have endeavoured to correct mistakes pointed out, and to adopt (where I have found it practicable) suggesttions made, by private correspondents. And through the kindness of a friend, I have had the advantage of consulting the late Dr. Neale's Paper on "The Collects of the Church" (Paper II. in "Essays on Liturgiology and Church History" [Saunders and Otley, London, 1863]), which I was not previously acquainted with. I trust the work as thus revised may be found less imperfect than when it was originally issued; and it will be my endeavour, if life and health be spared me, to follow it up, at no long interval of time, by a companion volume containing a " Thought for each day in the year, arising out of the Gospel for the Sunday." It would be looking further ahead than in this world of uncertainties we are justified in doing, if I were to announce a further projected volume, having for its subject the Epistles; but I should rejoice, if mercifully permitted to do so, to weave in this additional strand, so as to make a "threefold cord" of thought, whereby devout Church people might strive to raise themselves up to "those things which are above." DEANERY, NORWICH, Maunday Thursday (April 14), 1881. E. M. G. CONTENTS. II. ON THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD COLLECT III. ON THE STRUCTURE OF A COLLECT, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE COLLECT IN THE BURIAL SERVICE |