Hercules Collins was indeed a mighty man of God. Though his name is not well known among his spiritual heirs, his labours for the kingdom of God continue to bear fruit.

This little volume is evidence of the ongoing usefulness of the works of this seventeenth-century London pastor. The writings here, taken from five or six representative works of Hercules Collins, provide us with a useful selection of his thoughts. This is no dry book of ancient divinity; rather it is a living expression of true Christianity. Designed by its original author, and arranged so wonderfully by its editors, for the glory of God, the good of the souls of believers, and the growth of the Lord’s temple.

Devoted to the Service of the Temple is the third book in a series called Profiles in Reformed Spirituality, being co-edited by Joel R. Beeke and Michael A.G. Haykin. This series is designed to introduce the spirituality and piety of the Reformed tradition by presenting descriptions of the lives of notable Christians with select passages from their works. This combination of biographical sketches and collected portions from primary sources gives a taste of the treated subjects' contribution to our spiritual heritage and some direction as to how the reader can find further edification through their works.