Communion with the Deity by Samuel Shaw (PDF)
Look Inside: Communion with the Deity (Table of Contents)
Samuel Shaw begins: “the ground of my discourse then shall be this ‘A godly man has communion with God.’” He speaks much of happiness and states: “it is not possible for anything that is extrinsical to the soul to make it happy; but the soul that is advanced into the noble state of communion with God, is made partaker of a new nature, and is truly happy.” Also: “Christians, tell me not what you profess of Christ, what you believe of the gospel, what orthodox opinions you hold, what an honest party you side with, how many and specious duties you perform, no, nor what hopes or wishes you have of going to heaven; but tell me where is your principal communion; what do you principally mind, follow, converse with; to what pattern do you conform; by which rule do you live; what object do you ultimately aim?”
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Samuel Shaw (1635–1696) was born in Repton, Derbyshire, England. He was educated at the free school and then St. John’s College, Cambridge. In 1656 he was master at the free school in Tamworth, Warwickshire. He became curate at Moseley in 1657. He was ordained in 1658 and went to Long-Whatton, Leicestershire until 1660. As an English nonconformist minister he was removed in 1661, a year before the Uniformity Act. Afterwards he became schoolmaster of the free school in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. He did much to rehabilitate the town.
