The Body of Death, Title page – To the reader
ΣΩΜΑ ΘΑΝΑΤΟγ, THE BODY of DEATH: Or, A DISCOURSE Concerning the SAINTS Failings & Infirmities.
Wherein this Poſition, viz. That abſolute freedome from ſinne is not attainable in this life, is both proved and improved, in three SERMONS preached in St Edmunds Church in the City of New-Sarum; The firſt upon Wedneſday Novemb 24. 1658. being the weekly Lecture day; The two laſt upon Auguſt 14. 1659. being the Lords day.
By JOSEPH SWAFFEILD Miniſter of the Goſpel at Odſtocke in the County of Wilts.
There is not a juſt man upon the earth, that doth good, and ſinneth not. Eccleſ. 7.20.
Quemlibet valdè juſtum diſcutias in hâc vitâ; quamvis jam ſit dignus juſti vocabulo, non eſt tamen ſinè peccato. Aug. Tom. 9. Tract. 41. in Johan. p. 210. Froben. 1529.
London, Printed by A. M. for Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleetſtreet. 1661.
DIGNISSIMO VIRO, JOHANNI BƲLKELEY ARMIGERO. PIETATIS AC LITERARUM FAUTORI EMINENTISSIMO. TRES HASCE CONSCIONES QUALESCUNQUE SARISBƲRIAE NUPER HABITAS NUNC PUBLICI JURIS FACTAS Tenue Quidem & Perexiguum Perpetuae Tamen Obſervantiae TESTIMONIUM PER QUAM HUMILITER D. D. D. J.S.
THE Epiſtle to the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
WHen theſe Sermons were firſt preached, I intended no further publication of them, than from the Pulpit; nor did I deſire to have them any otherwiſe imprinted, than upon the fleſhly Tables of the hearts of thoſe, to whom they were delivered.
The truth is, they had ſcarcely ever ſeen the light, had I not been earneſtly ſollicited by ſome Chriſtian friends for Copies thereof; whoſe deſires, as I was not willing to deny, ſo I have not been able, through want of time, hitherto to fullfill. To ſpare therefore my pains in tranſcribing them, was one inducement, that moved me to communicate them in this way.
Moreover, having been frequently with much importunity preſſed by ſeverall Chriſtians, to publiſh ſome other Meditations, preached during the time of our late Diſtractions and Confuſions, which though they were then ſeaſonable (and I hope) not altogether unprofitable, yet I hitherto judged it more convenient to ſuppreſs, than to publiſh; and at ſome time or other (if providence ſhould afford an opportunity) to gratifie thoſe my friends, by putting ſome other Meditations into their hands, which might be of more generall uſe.
I confeſs, I am conſcious of ſo many weakneſſes and imperfections in this Work, that had it not been for the Reaſons above-mentioned, I had never expoſed it to publick view. And I have hitherto judged the publication hereof the leſs neceſſary, becauſe juſt at the time, while I was ſtudying theſe Sermons, after I had preached the firſt of them, I met with a printed Sermon of Reverend Mr. Caſe, entituled, Eliah's Abatement: or, Corruption in the Saints; preached at Chatham in Kent, at the Funerall of Mr. Gualter Roſewell, late Miniſter there; in which Sermon, the ſame truth, that is here treated upon, is excellently handled, though in another manner and method.
But, though I have upon that account hitherto for born the publication of theſe Notes; yet, being of late in ſome danger of being removed from the place, where for eleven years laſt paſt I have exerciſed my Miniſtry; and (although that danger be through the good hand of Gods providence, I hope, now over; yet) conſidering the weakneſs of my body, and my ſhort time of ſojourning here, I became the more inclinable hereunto; knowing, that this may preach to my people, when I cannot; yea, when I ſhall be no more. And I was the rather inclined unto it, becauſe although the Reverend Author before-mentioned, and my ſelf proſecute the ſame Truth, yet in a different method; and the various method of handling the ſame Truth, may render the repetition the leſs unpleaſing. I deny not, but here and there, in the two laſt Sermons, I have borrowed a notion from him, as I have alſo done throughout the whole, from ſeverall other known and approved Authors; yet herein, I truſt; I have not wronged either him or them, having for the moſt part reſtored it to the right owner again in the Margin; and (I hope) I may without vanity affirm, that I have not only uſed, but in ſome meaſure improved ſuch borrowed notions.
For the ſtyle, in which theſe Sermons were preached, and in which they are now publiſhed, I confeſs it is very plain. But I hope the Truth therein contained will not find the leſs acceptance for the plainneſs of its dreſs. I remember, it was St. Pauls glory, that he came not (to the Corinthians) with excellency of ſpeech, or wiſdome to declare to them the teſtimony of God: and his ſpeech and his preaching was not with inticeing words of mans wiſdome, Salvian.but in demonſtration of the Spirit and of power, 1 Cor. 2.1, 4. Miniſters ſhould ſpeak utilia potius quàm plauſibilia, rather ſuch things, as may profit, than ſuch as may pleaſe: and they ſhould follow St. Cyprians direction to Donatus, to make choice not of diſerta but fortia; and ſtudy rather to work upon the affections, than to tickle the fancies of their hearers: and that rule of the Apoſtle ſhould be much reſpected by them, Let all things be done to edification, 1 Cor. 14.26.
This Diſcourſe therefore (ſuch as it is) is now tendred to thy view, and thou art deſired to peruſe it, and with thoſe nohle Bereans, Act. 17.11.to ſearch the Scriptures, whether theſe things are ſo. I am ſure, if the matter of it be the truth of God, how plain ſoever the ſtyle be, it is worthy of all acceptation for the Lords ſake. If the Lord would but make it inſtrumentall for the leaſt good to any one ſoul, I have my deſire. With him therefore I leave it, and unto him, and to his grace I commend thee, Chriſtian Reader, reſting
Thine, in any Goſpel-ſervice J. Swaffeild. Decemb. 18. 1660.