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."-Ist PETER, C. ii.v. 17.

VOL. I.

London:
HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY;

AND

KNIGHT AND DREDGE, CASTLE-STREET, WINDSOR.

0. Knight, Printer, Windsor.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Character of u 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.

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 Len, 61-Luther publicly burns the Pope's Bull, ih.-

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, ih.-Proverbs

and Ecclesiastes, 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, ill.-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, 119-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, 155m-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.Jopah, ib.Micah, ib.-Nahum, 159--Habakkuk, ib.

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

Life of Cranmer.-His birih 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, 16f-his

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

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

accession of Queen Mary, 186_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.m-is ordered for

execution, ib. bis 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 A postles, 210-performs miracles, ib.-sends forth
his disciples, ib. success of bis 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,
913m 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—Acis of the Apostles, 260, 261,

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

lippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, 263-10 Timothy, Tilus, and Philemon, ib.-
to the Hebrews, ib.- Epistle of James, ib.-Epistles of Peter, ib.- Epistles of

Joho, 264—Epistle of Jude, ibo-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 iu Christianity encouraged, 318.

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

tion only the completion of a systematic plan of God, 318—helief 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, 924-danger

and mischief of the example, ib._drunkenness censured by St. Paul, 325mappetite

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

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

rules for the avoiding of intemperance, 326.

No. VIII.

Lectures on the Liturgy.-Lecture 1.-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, 3664-mean-
ing of the word Liturgy, ib.--ohjections against a set form of prayer refuted, ib.-
advantages thereof, ib.-lhe 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 therehy fulblled, 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