The Religious Tradesman

by Richard Steele

The Reverend Mr. Richard Steele, a worthy Minister in the last century, published a treatise entitled, The Tradesman’s Calling; a book admirably fitted by its proper representation of the Tradesman’s duties, and the close and warm enforcement of them upon the conscience, from the arguments of scripture and reason, to do excellent service (under the blessing of God) to the shop and to the world. This piece is now very little known; the chief reason of which may possibly be, that its noble matter lies under the disadvantage of an ancient name, and an ancient dress; to relieve which objection, and, if it please God, to do a kindness to the trading world, by setting before them their duty and interest, and thereby preventing those present and future miseries, which negligence, injustice, and irreligion, bring upon mankind; a person into whose hands it fell, from a strong persuasion of its admirable tendency to these ends, determined, after several alterations had been made, to send it abroad afresh into the world.

As it is a pleasure to meet with any opportunity to assist the cause of religion and virtue, and being well satisfied that the following sheets contain a rich treasure of wholesome instruction, such as every tradesman should write upon his heart, and practice in his shop and family, with the greatest readiness I lend my name to the piece; and heartily wish it could borrow much greater advantages, as to its perusal and usefulness, than I am capable of giving it by my recommendation.

As the age in which we live is much degenerated from the virtue and piety of our forefathers, I should be heartily glad if I might see the salvation of God, in a general repentance and reformation: And should this begin in the shop and the exchange, how wide and amazing would be its influence? No more would our eyes be witnesses of the base practices of overreaching, and various other iniquities; nor would our ears be so often shocked with the tremendous bankruptcy and ruin, brought by idleness, luxury and vice, not only upon single persons, but whole families left destitute and wretched forever after. That the following pages may be blest to these purposes, is the desire and prayer of the Reader’s hearty well wisher and

Humble servant,

ISAAC WATTS.

Newington, Jan. 24th, 1747.

This classic works includes the following chapters:

Introduction
I. The Nature of a Life of Business, and Obligations to It
II. Of Choosing a Calling
III. Of Prudence or Discretion
IV. Of Diligence
V. Of Justice
VI. Of Truth
VII. Of Contentment
VIII. Of Religion
IX. Of Leaving Our Callings

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

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

[Joshua Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book on applying Biblical principles to business life..

UPDATE
Here in 2020 I bought a copy of this book and started reading it before looking it up here and realizing I read it 6 years ago. So I reread some sections that seemed helpful. I think this is a great book and would recommend it to others.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a straight forward assessment of your calling from a puritan writer. What work to choose and how you should do it. How do you asses your abilities in light of what God has given you, your education, your gifts, talents etc. Great stuff.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gospel-laden, Christ-exalting collection of essays on various aspects of work and walking in the ways of God when doing work. While the target audience are the Christians who work in some kind of trade, plenty of practical lessons can be gleaned for all kinds of work.

[Ed Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kind of straight, honest business advice that no longer sells. Good stuff

[Joshua Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with applying the Bible to business life. A lot is common sense, but it does cover some interesting questions in a very straightforward way.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of which the western world is not worthy, but should be treasured nonetheless as a gift of God’s grace. Every Christian needs this.