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What Then Are The Characteristics Which We Must Expect In A Collect?1. It has three simple parts: (a) the Name of God; (b) what we ask; (c) our appeal to Christ's advocacy. 2. It makes no effort to instruct the congregation, but speaks with simplicity and directness, to Him who knows all things. {138} 3. It asks for grace and help for our souls, whereby we may do what is right. Other prayers imitate Collects in one or more of these respects; and may be called Collects, though not satisfying all the conditions. The Three parts of a Collect. Our Lord taught us (St John xiv. 13, 14; xv. 16; xvi. 23-26) to ask God in His name. A Collect is a prayer made on that model. It has three parts: (a) God is addressed; and (b) petition made, (c) in the Name of Jesus. (a) God is addressed. This may be expressed in one word, or expanded into a sentence. It is always the reason for our prayer, that God is able and willing to hear us: every name of God when named by His children is an appeal to Him. When we expand the address, we do so in order to include a claim, to be heard because some quality in God has a special relation to that which we are about to ask. Because God loves peace, we can ask Him for Peace: because He is merciful, we can ask Him for forgiveness: because He gave at Pentecost, we can ask Him for the same gift on Whitsun Day. Thus the name of God at the beginning of a Collect often includes some title upon which we build our hope. (b) What we ask. This may be simple, or complex: it is Simple when we ask for something without saying anything of the means, or the results, {139} of our obtaining it: Complex, when we ask for some thing in order that we may also have something else. (c) Appeal to Christ's Advocacy. Our claim upon God is "in the name" of Jesus Christ. Here again we vary the thought in agreement with the petition: sometimes it is His mediation, sometimes His might, or His love, which we mention: but not haphazard--the words are chosen to suit what has been asked for. One variety of this part deserves special mention--when we claim the Saviour's advocacy, by words which recognise Him as One of the Blessed Trinity. When His Godhead is thus mentioned, an ascription of praise is often added. Next: Origin Of The Word 'collect' Previous: Three Celebrated Sacramentaries
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