The Character of an Upright Man

by Richard Steele, Randall Pederson (other)

Richard Steele came from a long line of illustrious Puritan pastors. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He was involved in the ordination of both Philip Henry and his more famous son Matthew. Richard Steele has had two books published in lithograph by Sprinkle Publications: "A Remedy for Wandering Thoughts in the Worship of God" and "The Religious Tradesman." This is Steele's first book to be published in modern form. His only work remaining to be published is is "A Discourse Concerning Old Age."

128 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2024

About the author

Richard Steele (Steel) (1629-1692), nonconformist divine, son of Robert Steele, farmer, was born at Barthomley, Cheshire, on 10 May 1629. He was educated at Northwich grammar school, admitted sizar at St. John’s College, Cambridge, on 1 April 1642, and incorporated M.A. at Oxford on 5 July 1656. He succeeded Thomas Porter as rector of Hanmer, Flintshire, probably in 1650. Henry Newcome visited him there on 10 June 1654. He was a member of the fourth Shropshire classis (constituted by parliament in April 1647), and, as such, was one of the ordainers of Philip Henry [q. v.] on 16 Sept. 1657. Thirty years later (9 May 1687) he was one of the ordainers, at his own house in London, of Philip Henry’s son, Matthew Henry [q. v.] In September 1660 he was presented at Flint assizes for not reading the common prayer; the prosecution fell through, owing to Charles it’s declaration in October. He was again presented at the spring assizes on 28 March 1661 at Hawarden. He resigned his living in consequence of the Uniformity Act of 1662, preaching a farewell sermon (17 Aug.), in which he said he was ejected for not subscribing his assent to the new prayer-book, which he had not yet seen. He continued to communicate at Hanmer, where he received ‘sitting’ on 19 April 1663. On 25 July he was presented for baptising his own children, and in October was arrested on suspicion of treason. Early in 1665 he was made collector for Hanmer of the ‘royal aid,’ the point being to treat him as a layman. In April 1665 he was again arrested, as he was setting out for London; his pocket diary was taken from him, and passages were misconstrued. An entry of an appointment “on a carnal account” was “interpreted to be some woman design.” Philip Henry records “’a great noise in the country concerning Mr. Steel’s almanack.” The Five Miles Act, coming into force on 25 March 1666, compelled him to leave Hanmer, and he took up his residence in London. Urwick conjectures (Nonconformity in Cheshire, 1864, p. xlix) that his was the license granted on 10 June 1672 for presbyterian preaching in “the house of Rob. Steele” at Barthomley, Cheshire; he certainly contributed to the building of a school at Barthomley in 1675. Though he may have made occasional visits to the north, Philip Henry’s diary shows that he was constantly exercising his ministry in London from 1671. He gathered a morning congregation at Armourers’ Hall, Coleman Street; in the afternoon he preached at Hoxton. He died on 16 Nov. 1692. George Hamond, his colleague and successor, preached his funeral sermon. He had ten sons, five of whom were dead in 1672. His portrait is in Dr. Williams’s Library; an engraving from it by Hopwood is given in Wilson.

[Funeral Sermon by Hamond, 1693: Calamy’s Account. 1713, p. 708; Calamy’s Continuation, 1727, ii. 835; Wilson’s Dissenting Churches of London. 1808, ii. 448 sq.; Williams’s Life of Philip Henry, 1825, passim; Lee’s Diaries and Letters of Philip Henry, 1882, passim; Mayor’s Admissions to St. John’s, Cambridge, 1882, i. 63.] A. G.

Reviews

[Bobby James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some parts were not so good. Other parts were really really good. Convicting for sure and surprisingly gracious in others. The 3rd “Application” chapter is the best.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads as if Ryle were a puritan. Pastoral and convicting, and well written to boot.

[Ben Vanderhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book goes over uprightness in contrast to hypocrisy. It is very convicting but also comforting.
My one complaint is that Christ is not emphasized as the true source of uprightness or as the true cure to hypocrisy. The book is extremely practical and encourages deep self-reflection, but I found myself continually reminding myself of the gospel as the broader context of the book's discussion.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the start of this but found it a little tedious after a while (hence how long it took me to complete it!) The content is pretty good, but just not special enough to make up for the fact that the writing lacked something. In other words, he is no Thomas Watson in this book.

Liked it.