“Oil in My Lamp”: A Reformed Guide to Private Devotion (6)

At long last, the last section of the  “Guide to Private Devotion” in A Liturgy, or, Order of Christian Worship. The texts and prayers focus on (a) praising God in the watches of the night and (b) preparing for death. The final prayer contains an allusion to the Te Deum.

It would be nice to have all of these in some kind of booklet or e-booklet or app or something. Alas, I am not savvy enough to do that.

At Midnight.

The Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me; and my prayer unto the God of my life.–Ps. xlii. 8.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.–Ps. lxiii. 5, 6.

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.–2 Pet. iii. 10.

Be ye also ready; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.–Luke xii. 40.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.–Luke xii. 32.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you into myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.–John xiv. 2, 3.

We know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.–2 Cor. v. 1.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.–1 Cor. ii. 9.

O LORD, who didst, at midnight, fill Thy servants David, and Paul and Silas, with Thy Spirit, and enable them to sing praises unto Thee, make me to think upon Thee with gladness in my bed, and to rejoice in Thy presence, which turns darkness into light. Amen.

O JESUS CHRIST, who hast compared Thy second coming to that of the bridegroom at midnight, let this cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh,” continually sound in my ear, and grant that I may always have oil in my lamp, and be in readiness to meet Thee. Amen.

GRANT, O GOD, that I may live in Thy fear, die in Thy peace, rest in my ¹ grave under Thy protection, rise by Thy power to the resurrection of the just, and be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honor and praise, for ever and ever. Amen.