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    The Book of Common Prayer
of the Church of Ireland (1666)

 

A Form of Divine Service to be used, October the Twenty Third, Appointed by Act of Parliament made in this Kingdom in the 14th and 15th Year of King Charles the Second, to be kept and celebrated as an Anniversary Thanksgiving; which Act is ordered to be read publicly in the Church at Morning Prayer, every Twenty Third of October .

The Service shall be the same with the usual Office for Holy- days in all things; except where it is hereafter otherwise appointed.

¶ If this Day shall happen to be Sunday, only the Collect proper for that Sunday shall be added to this Office in its place.

¶ Morning Prayer shall begin with one or more of these Sentences.

IF the Lord himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say; If the Lord himself had not been on our side, when men rose up against us: they had swallowed us up quick: when they were so wrathfully displeased at us.  Psal. 124. 1, 2.
    Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:   S. Matt 5. 11.
    I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.   S. Matt 5. 44.

Venite, exultemus may be used, or instead of it, the following Hymn be used, one verse by the Priest, and another by the People.

DEliver me, O Lord, from the evil man : and preserve me from the wicked man.   Psal. 140. 1.
    The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords : yea, and set traps in my way.   Psal. 140. 5.
    They encourage themselves in mischief : and commune among themselves how they may lay snares, and say that no man shall see them.   Psal. 64. 5.
    They imagine wickedness, and practise it : that they keep secret among themselves, every man in the deep of his heart.   Ver. 6.
    They prevented me in the day of my trouble : but the Lord was my upholder.   Psal. 18. 18.
    The Lord hath chastened and corrected me : but he hath not given me over unto death.   Psal. 118. 18.
    The Lord liveth, and blessed be my strong helper : and praised be the Lord of my salvation.   Psal. 18. 45.
    It is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies, and setteth me up above mine adversaries : thou shalt rid me from the wicked man.    Psal. 18. 47.
    Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy : thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.   Psal. 30. 12.
    Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing : O my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Ver. 13.
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, &c.
    As it was in the, &c.
 

 

 

On 23 October 1641, a group of Catholics, as part of a coordinated attack throughout Ireland, attempted to take Dublin Castle, the historical seat of English power in Ireland. However, this group was betrayed, the Castle fortified at the last minute, and the attack was thwarted. Meanwhile, much of Ulster (essentially today's Northern Ireland) was seized by the rebels, and massacres of as many as 10000 Protestants ensued. The rebellion continued, aided by the English Civil War, for a number of years until finally crushed by Cromwell (who managed to massacre easily an equal number of Catholics), beginning in 1649.

The rebellion, which nearly succeeded in driving the English from Ireland, had its immediate origins in the establishment of "plantations", or settlements of immigrant Protestants, primarily in Ulster, in the early 1600's. As a result, many of the Catholic landlords and property-owners, both Irish, and "Old English", or Norman, lost property, became disenfranchised, and felt they were in danger of losing everything. These started the revolt of 1641 to gain back what they had lost, or felt they were about to lose.

This service, then, represents the point of view of the victors in a struggle where there was plenty of blame for all sides.

¶ Proper Psalms.   iii, ix, xii, xlvi, clxiv.

¶ Proper Lessons,   The I. 2. Chron. XIII to v. 19, or Jer. XXX. or Jer. XLI.

The II. Acts XXIII to v. 23. or S. Mat. IX. or Acts V.
 

 

Benedictus.

¶ After the Collect for the Sunday, shall be said this following Collect.

ALmighty God and heavenly Father, who out of thy most wise and ever-watchful Providence, and tender Mercies towards us thine unworthy servants, hast been pleased, as at other times, so as on this day, to prevent the extreme malice, mischievous imagination, and bloody intention of our enemies, by revealing so wonderfully and opportunely their Rebellion, and cruel Enterprises plotted against our dread Sovereign Lord the King, and the whole State of the Realm, for the subversion of this Government, and the utter extirpation of the truth of thy Gospel, and pure Religion professed among us. We most humbly praise and magnifie thy glorious Name, for thy infinite gracious goodness in this our marvellous deliverance. We confess it was thy mercy, thy mercy alone (most merciful Father) that we were not consumed; and therefore not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy Name be ascribed all honour and glory, in all Churches of the Saints throughout all generations. For thou, Lord, didst discover unto thy servants the snares of death; Thou didst break them, and we were delivered. Be thou still our mighty Protector, and scatter our enemies that delight in blood; enfatuate their Councils, enfeeble their strength, put fear into their hearts, and accomplish this thy mercy in our safety and future deliverance. And to that end, strengthen the hands of our gracious King, the Lord Lieutenant, the Lords, and Magistrates of the Land, with Justice and Power, to restrain such workers of iniquity, who pretend Religion, and practice Rebellion, and devour thine inheritance; This, Lord, we earnestly crave at thy merciful hands, together with the continuance of thy powerful protection over our dread Sovereign, the whole Church, and these Realms, and the speedy conversion of all our enemies; and that for thy dear Sons sake, Jesus Christ, our only Mediatour and Advocate.   Amen.

Or,

ALmighty God, who out of thy merciful Providence, hast been pleased at other times, so as on this day, to frustrate the bloody designs of our enemies, by revealing so seasonably and wonderfully, their Rebellious Conspiracy against our then Sovereign, and the whole Church and State of this Realm. We most humbly praise and magnifie thy glorious Name, for thy goodness in that our most marvellous deliverance. We confess it was thy mercy alone that we were not consumed, and therefore unto thee only, O Lord, be ascribed all honour and Glory in the Church throughout all generations, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost, one God, world without end.   Amen.

¶ Then shall follow,

ACcept also, most gracious God, our unfeigned thanks and praise, for the many instances of thy marvellous loving-kindness, since that time vouchsafed to our Church and Nation, in the signal preservation of our Religion and Liberties: of which and all other thy mercies, we beseech thee to give us such a lively and lasting sense, as that we may shew forth thy praise, from generation to generation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

¶ Then shall follow the Litany.
 

 

¶ After the prayer [We humbly beseech thee, &c.] shall follow,

O Most gracious Lord God, we of this Nation, whom thou didst snatch as brands out of the fire of the late horrid Massacre: We this day assembled before thee, do with shame and sorrow acknowledge and confess, that our sins had most justly provoked thee to wrath, when thou didst suffer those men of blood to make their Swords fat with the slaughter of so many thousand innocents; and we may as justly fear, that by our not being made better by thy former Judgments, thou mayest be compelled to make thy Sword sharper, and return upon us in greater fury, because our sins are greater, more bold, and more provoking; in particular our contempt and neglect of thy sacred Ordinances, our vain and false-swearing (for which the land mourneth) our unchristian uncharitableness, and shameful intemperance, our sacrilege and covetousness, hypocrisie, slandering, and deep security in the midst of all our sins and dangers. These, together with a glorying in our impieties, might in justice have brought upon us a sudden and horrible destruction; but contrary to the method of thy proceedings against others thou hast spared us, thereby wooing us to return to thee by unfeigned repentance: thou hast magnified thy Mercy towards us that we might magnifie thee, as we do this day, this memorable day, O Lord, for thy patience and long-suffering, not withstanding all our provocations; We repent, O pardon; we return, O vouchsafe to receive us, and enable us to walk worthy of this great past deliverance, by a more strict and holy future obedience, for the merits of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer.   Amen.

Or,

O Most gracious God, we of this Nation, now assembled before thee, confess with shame and sorrow, that the sins of this Nation did most justly provoke thee to suffer cruel men to imbrue their hands in the blood of many thousand innocents, and we justly fear, that our not being made better by thy former chastisements, may draw down more heavy Judgments upon us; We bewail our manifold sins for which we have deserved, and ought to expect a swift and utter destruction: But out of thy great mercy thou hast spared us, and by thy long-suffering dost lead us to repentance. We repent, O pardon; we return, O vouchsafe to receive us, and enable us to walk worthy of this great past deliverance, by a more strict and holy future obedience, for the merits of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer.   Amen.

¶ Then shall follow the Prayer for the Chief Governor or Governors.

¶ In the second Service, after the Prayer for the King, the Collect for this day shall be used, viz.

Almighty God and heavenly Father, &c.

Or,

Almighty God, who out of, &c.
 

 

For the Epistle,  Nehem. 4. 7. - 15

Or,

The Epistle,  2 Cor. 1. 3. - 10

The Gospel.  S. Matt. 24. 5. - 13

Or,

S. Matth. 14. 23. - 33

 

 The Scripture readings are printed out in full in the original; only the citations are given here.

¶ After the Prayer (for the whole state of Christ Church) the following Collect shall be used.

O Merciful Lord God, who hast been graciously pleased to preserve this Church and Kingdom from total desolation, and to give us the blessings of Peace and good Government, make us with all thankfulness to be obedient to thy holy Will in all things, to be faithful and constant in our duty to the King, and to all that are in authority under him; to be sincere in thy worship, zealous of good works, of one faith, and of one mind, studying to be quiet, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, even as thou, O God, for Christ's sake, hast forgiven us. And grant that every one, in his several vocation, may labour to advance that welfare both of Church and State; and that by a thorough Reformation of our lives, we may become a people whom thou mayest take delight to bless; And that our souls may be favoured in the day of the Lord Jesus. These mercies we most humbly beseech thee to grant, to the glory of thy Name, through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Redeemer.   Amen.

Or,

MOst merciful and bountiful Lord God, seeing thou hast been graciously pleased to preserve thy most unworthy people from total desolation, and daily to follow us with the blessings of Peace and good Government; make us therefore, O Lord, in all thankfulness so to be obedient to thy will in all things, to be faithful and constant in our duty to the King, and to all that are in authority under him; to be sincere in thy worship, zealous of good Works, of one faith, and of one mind, studying to be quiet, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hast forgiven us, so that when every one, in his several place shall labour to advance the good, both of Church and State, and by a thorough Reformation of our lives, shall become a people whom thou mayest take delight to bless, then thy Judgments which we have deserved, and therefore fear, may be averted, and our sinful souls saved in the day of our Lord Jesus. Then with one heart and voice, we may all praise thee in thy Church, and always sing joyfully, that thy loving kindness is ever more and more towards us, and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. These mercies we, most unworthy to ask, humbly beseech thee to grant, for the benefit of this Church and Nation, and glory of thy Name, through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Redeemer.   Amen.

  

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