Religious Tradesman - Steele - IX - Chapter 8 (Of religion)

Required reading
The Religious Tradesman by Richard Steele (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 8 (Of religion).

My summary
This week Steele gives us his thoughts on religion.

Firstly he tells us what religion is: 'Having just apprehensions of God and minds and practices formed agreeable thereto.'

Secondly Steele teaches us some instances wherein religion is to be exerted:
(i) in the operative knowledge of the perfections of God and the relations in which we stand towards him;
(ii) in adhering to the word of God as the rule of our faith and practice;
(iii) in living by faith on God;
(iv) in serious and constant worship of God;
(v) in religious observance of the Lord's day;
(vi) in habitual disposedness unto religious conversation;
(vii) in pious meditation;
(viii) in watchfulness.

Thirdly Steele encourages us to reflect on ourselves and consider what our own dispositions and practice have been.

Fourthly Steele endeavours to remove some of those prejudices which arise in the minds of men against a religious life.

Fifthly Steele gives us some reasons why we should live a life of serious practical religion:
(i) it is the truest wisdom;
(ii) it affords the most solid happiness;
(iii) it is of the greatest necessity.

What grabbed me
I liked how Steele answered one of the objections to living a religious life: 'I shall endeavour to remove some of prejudices which arise in the minds of men against a religious life. One is, the difficulties of religion; that the rules of it are too self-denying and the path to heaven too narrow to be comfortable and happy. To this it may be replied that there is nothing which God requires but what is conducive to the real happiness of reasonable creatures ; and nothing that he forbids but what is consistent with it. The excessive indulgence of animal appetites and disorderly affections, whatever low satisfactions they may give at present, are as destructive of the true peace, as they are of the purity of the human mind ; and are these restrictions of religion then fit subjects of complaint? If our vitiated natures find some of the rules of religion a restraint upon our inclinations, can we think that our appetites and affections are always so wise and reasonable as never to need a curb? Or shall we repent, when we arrive at the regions of bliss that our labour has been too much, or our self-denial too great, in order to attain that happy state ? Surely not. But there is really nothing so hard in religion, but the grace of God, and the habits of virtue, will make it easy to us ; the greatest difficulties are usually at firsts before the mind is healed oi its prevailing distempers; the longer we travel on in the paths of religion, the more sweet and delightful they become unto us : as all the employments of life appear difficulty when we first enter upon them, why should difficulties in religion only affright us? If we believe God, and credit those who have made the experiment, they assure us, that "all its ways are pleasantness and its paths peace," and "in keeping of them is great reward.'' '

True religion always results in true happiness.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 9 (Of leaving our callings) and the Appendix.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.