THE

PLAIN ENGLISHMAN:

COMPREHENDING

Original Compositions,

AND

SELECTIONS FROM THE BEST WRITERS,

UNDER THE HEADS OF

THE CHRISTIAN MONITOR; THE BRITISH PATRIOT;

THE FIRESIDE COMPANION.

"Fear God. Honour the King."-1st PETER, c. ii. v. 17.

VOL. I.

London:

HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY;

AND

KNIGHT AND DREDGE, CASTLE-STREET, WINDSOR.

1820.

0. Knight, Printer, Windsor.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Character of a Plain Englishman.--His advantages, from his Government and his
Religion, p. i.-feelings of the Plain Englishman of the Working Classes, ii.-evils
of the abuse of knowledge, ib.-proper object of National Education, to enable
all people to read the Holy Scriptures, ib.-other knowledge may be communi-
cated with advantage to the Christian and the good subject, iii.-the object of
this Publication to communicate such useful, innocent, and necessary knowledge
to those who have not access to bulky and expensive Books, and particularly to
those whose desire for information has been called into action by the system of
National Instruction, iv.

The Christian Monitor.

No. I.

Reflections on New Year's Day.-Introduction, p. 1-New Year's Day a season of
congratulation and festivity, -ought also to be a season of thanksgiving, ih.-men
more apt to give themselves up to temporal than spiritual pursuits, 3-religion the
true business of life, ib.-general neglect thereof, 4-importance of marking time
by religious improvement, ib. temptation common to all ranks, ib.-resignation,
piety, and saving of time recommende to the poor, 5-necessity of immediate pre-
paration for eternity, ib.-worldly affairs no excuse for neglect, 6-situation of an
English labourer contrasted with that of others, 7-gratitude to Heaven recom-
mended to him, ib.-immediate necessity of improving time, ib.
Atheism and Infidelity Refuted, by Bishop Watson.-Notice of the author, 8-atheism
hostile to the very existence of civil society, ib.-Bacon's opinion of Christianity,
ib.-both nature and reason prove the existence of a Creator, 9-anecdote of
Newton, ib.-Cotes, 16-Boyle, ib.-belief of a Creator appears from the
annals of all nations, ib.-history of the Jews in the Bible evidence against atheism
and deism, 11-causes of infidelity, ib.-data of Christianity, 12-carry conviction
to the mind in the decline of life, ib.-conclusion, ib.
Ogden on Prayer.-Notice of Dr. Ogden, 13—ancient fable, ib.-prayer commanded
by God, ib.-success thereof exemplified at siege of Jericho, ib.-testimonies of the
Apostles in favour of prayer, arguments in favour of prayer drawn from the
Scriptures, 15-authenticity of miracles upheld, ib.-superintendence of Provi-
dence an encouragement to devotion, ib.

No. II.

Lectures on the Bible.-Preface, 49.-Lecture I.-analysis of Old Testament, 50-

arrangement thereof by the Jews, ib.-difficulties attendant on first examination

thereof, 51-points to be considered when entering thereon, 52-great attention

requisite to preserve the connexion of events therein recorded, ib.-Bible the

oldest book in the world, ib.-synopsis of the Pentateuch, 53-laws and historical

events therein contained adapted to the then state of mankind, 54-direct commu-

nication of God with the Israelites the only possible means of giving them a know-

ledge of religion, 55-heavenly interference in behalf of the Jews necessary as a

warning to other nations, 56-from the past fulfilment of prophecies that of others

to be expected, ib.-summary of lecture, 57.

Conversation with an Unbeliever.—Irreligious men necessarily unhappy, 57-religion

a barrier against wickedness and disloyalty, 58-prudence leads us to embrace

Christianity. 59-Christianity a sure consolation in poverty and sickness, ib.--

arguments of deistical writers against a beneficed clergy refuted, 60.

Life of Martin Luther.-Introduction, 61-parentage, birth, and education of Luther,

62 sale of indulgences by Leo X. 63-opposition thereof by Luther, ib.-his

doctrines condemned by Leo, 64-Luther publicly burns the Pope's Bull, ib.—
defends his doctrines before the General Assembly of the German empire, ib.-
condemned by the Council, but protected by the Elector of Saxony, ib.-abjures
the papal authority, quits the monastic habit and marries, ib.-his doctrines again
condemned, 65-Confession of Augsburg published, ib.-Luther translates the
Bible into German, ib.-his death and character, ib.

No. III.

Lectures on the Bible.-Lecture II.-History of the Pentateuch, Genesis, 101-

Exodus, 103-Leviticus,ib.-Numbers,ib.-Deuteronomy,ib.-Joshua,104-Judges,

105-Book of Ruth, ib.-Book of Samuel, ib.-Book of Kings, ib.-Chronicles,

106-Ezra, ib.-Nehemiah. 107-Esther, ib.-Job, ib.-Psalms, ib.-Proverbs

and Ecclésiastes, ib.-Song of Solomon, 108.-mistakes of copiers and translators
of the Bible, ib.

Life of Richard Hooker -His birth aud education, 109-patronized by Bishops Jewel

and Sandys, 110-takes orders, ib.-marries, ib.-appointed Master of the Temple,

ib.-removed to the rectory of Boscum, 111.-writes his Ecclesiastical Polity,

ib.-removed to Bishop's-Borne, ib.-falls sick and dies, ib.-his remarks on his

death-bed, ib.-his character, 112.

On Seriousness in Religion.-Seriousness the first requisite in religion, 112-thoughtless

persons seldom consider seriously of religion, ib.-common course of education

obstructs religious seriousness, 112-as does worldly business and sensuality, 113—

explanation of religious ordinances and exercises, 114-jesting and raillery as to

the opinions of particular sects inimical to religion at large, 115.

No. IV.

Lectures on the Bible.-Prophecy.-Purpose of prophecy, 153-Christianity foretold

thereby, 154-captivity of the Jews, 155-their after relinquishment of idols ren-

dered the continuance of prophecy unnecessary, ib.-prophetical more difficult to

be understood than historical books of the Old Testament, ib.-eastern style full

of comparison, 156-greater and lesser prophets enumerated, ib.-prophecies of

Isaiah, ib.-Jeremiah, 157-Ezekiel, ib.-Daniel, ib.-Hosea, 158-Joel, ib.-

Amos, ib.-Obadiah, ib.-Jonah, ib.-Micah, ib.-Nahum, 159-Habakkuk, ib.

-Zephaniah, ib.-Haggai, ib.-Zechariah, ib.-Malachi, ib.-conclusion, 160.

Life of Cranmer. His birth and education, 162-is introduced to Henry VIII. 163-

appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, ib.-joins Lord Cromwell in opposing the

interests of papacy, ib.-Henry suppresses the monasteries, and confiscates their

revenues, ib.-Cranmer suspected of having advised these proceedings. ib.-Henry

returns to the Romish doctrines, ib.-Cranmer cited before the council for con-

tempt, but protected by the King, ib.-attends Henry on his death-bed, 161-his

religious publications, ib.-character of Edward VI. 165-he alters the succession

in favour of Lady Jane Grey, ib.-prevaiis on Cranmer to accede thereto, ib.-

accession of Queen Mary, 166-her anger against Cranmer, ib. increased by his

public declaration of abhorrence of popish creed, ib.-is brought to trial for contu-

macy, ib.-is degraded, 167-persuaded to recant his opinions, ib.-is ordered for

execution, ib.-his behaviour at his funeral sermon, ib.-at the place of execution,

168.

No. V.

Lectures on the Bible.-New Testament.-Coming of St. John Baptist prophesied by

Malachi, 205-John's appearance, and announcement of Christ, ib.-baptizes

with water, 206-the Jews expected the Messiah to appear as an earthly prince,

wherefore they refused to acknowledge him in the humble condition in which he

was born, ib.-disbelieved his miracles, ib.-persecuted and slew him, ib.--and

denied his resurrection, 207-they continue to deny Christ, and consider him an

impostor, ib.-though dispersed over the world, they still expect an earthly deli-

verer, ib.-recal of the Jews prophesied in Deuteronomy, ib.-Christ shall re-

appear on earth as a judge, ib.-proofs of the truth of Christianity, 208-cir-

cumstances of the life of Christ, ib.-his birth, ib.-announced to the shepherds,

209-flight into Egypt, ib.-return to Nazareth, ib.-his early wisdom, ib.-enters

upon his ministry, ib.-chooses Apostles, 210-performs miracles, ib.-sends forth

his disciples, ib. success of his doctrines hateful to the chief priests and pharisees,

ib.-who plot his destruction, 211-Jesus completes his ministry, ib.-celebrates

the passover, ib.-is betrayed by Judas, ib.-condemned by Pilate, 212-cruci-

fied, ib. arises from the dead on the third day, ib.-shows himself to his disciples,

913 and is carried up into heaven, ib.

Dialogue between Eusebius and Alciphron-Religion alone points' out a recompense

for worldly suffering, 214-labour ordained by God, 215-this life only prepara-

tory to another, 216-application necessary to obtain evidence of revelation, 217-

we are bound in common prudence to examine the evidence of revelation, 218-

conviction obtained by prayer, 219.

No. VI.

Lectures on the Bible.-Lecture V.-New Testament, account of the several Books

of, 257-general division into Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation, ib.-Gos-

pels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, 258-John, 259-Acts of the Apostles, 260, 261,

262-Epistles of Paul to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phil-

lippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians,263-to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, ib.-
to the Hebrews, ib.-Epistle of James, ib.-Epistles of Peter, ib.-Epistles of
John, 264-Epistle of Jude, ib Revelation, ib.

Dialogues between Eusebius and Alciphron.-Dialogue II.-Revelation supported by

historical testimony, 265, 266-Cbristianity, if convicted of imposture, would in-

stantly fall, 267-Christ's miracles seen by the Apostles, who bear testimony there-

of, 268-objections to the doctrine of miracles atheistical, 269.

No. VII.

Lectures on the Bible.-Lecture VI.-Retrospect of previous lectures, 311-Bible the

word of God revealed by degrees, ib.-promises of the Saviour contained in the

Old Testament, 312-connexion betwixt Old and New Testament, ib.-Gospel his-

tory confirmed by the writings of cotemporary Greek, Roman, and Jewish histo-

rians, 313 ancient copies of New Testament, ib.-zeal of primitive Chris-

tians, 314-nothing but divine authority could have preserved Christianity in its

earliest ages, ib.-state of the world at the dawning of Christianity, 315-difference

betwixt Christianity and Mahometanism, 316-rise of Mahometanism, ib.-Christ's

divine mission acknowledged by Mahomet, 317-Mahometanism only prevails

amongst the most ignorant nations of the earth, ib.-Christianity amongst the most

enlightened, ib.-undoubting belief in Christianity encouraged, 318.

Dialogues between Eusebius and Alciphron.-Dialogue III.-The Christian dispensa-

tion only the completion of a systematic plan of God, 318-belief of the divine in-

terposition in favour of the Jews leads to belief in the doctrines of Christianity,

319-miracles of Jesus witnessed by a whole nation, 320-ignorance a main cause

of infidelity, 321-study of the Gospels recommended to unbelievers, 322-also the

works of Porteus, Doddridge, and Paley, 323.

On Drunkenness, from Archdeacon Paley.-Bad effects of drunkenness, 24-danger

and mischief of the example, ib.-drunkenness censured by St. Paul, 325-appetite

for, not natural but acquired, ib.-arises from drunken company or idleness, ib.-

the habit once acquired different to be conquered, ib.-importance of laying down

rules for the avoiding of intemperance, 326.

Lectures on the Liturgy.-Lecture I.-Prayer commanded by God, 363-prayers

and sacrifices of the earliest ages, ib.-sanctioned by our Saviour, 364-set forms of

prayer appointed early in the establishment of Christianity, ib.-when immediate

inspiration ceased errors crept into the Church, ib.-establishment of Popery, ib.

Reformation, 365-translation of the Bible into the languages of the reformed

countries, ib.-first English Reformed Liturgy, ib.-Common Prayer, 366-mean-

ing of the word Liturgy, ib.-objections against a set form of prayer refuted, ib.-

advantages thereof, ib.-the truly pious do not complain of repetitions in the

church-service, 367-grace of God in us sufficient to overcome sinful thoughts and

wandering in prayer, ib.-instructions for external and internal behaviour in place

of worship, 368-general neglect of daily public prayer, ib.-custom no excuse for

neglect of duty, ib.-design of public worship, 369-Paley's opinion in favour of

the Liturgy, ib.

Practical Hints on Christianity, by Wilberforce.-Notice of the author, 370-religion
prohibits no innocent gratification, ib.-our physical and mental faculties, and
the face of nature, all administer pleasure, 371-Christian relaxations, ib.-joys
and sorrows peculiar to a Christian, 372-importance of religious pleasures in
sorrow, sickness, and old age. ib.

On the Fall of Jerusalem.-Interest felt in the destruction of Jerusalem, and subsequent
state of the Jews, 373-predictions of Christ thereby fulfilled, 374-cause of war
betwixt Romans and Jews, ib.-Romans lay waste Judea, but compelled to return
from before Jerusalem, with defeat, ib.-Vespasian assumes the command of the
Roman army and advances against Jerusalem, 376-is elected emperor, and the