THE DOWNFALL of the Fifth Monarchy. OR, The personal Reign of Christ on Earth, confuted.  
Discovering the desperate and dangerous Principles and Designs of these frenzy-conceited men of the Fifth Monarchy; who pretending to do the work of their generations, seek to involve these Nations again in blood and misery, had not the Lord prevented them in their design; With a brief manifestation of the true generation work which every good Christian ought to do.  JOH. 18. 36. My Kingdom (saith our Saviour) is not of this World. LUK. 19 14. We will not have this man to reign over us.  small image of lion 
The Lord hath roused them up.  
London, Printed for John Andrews, at the White Lion in the Old-Baily, 1657.   

THere is lately published a most excellent, pious, and profitable Book, entitled, Christ's first Sermon; or the necessary duty, and Christian practice of Repentance.  
Also, five other small Books, of singular worth and use for hese times. The one is called The Plain Man's plain Path way to Heaven, directing every one how they may be saved. A second, The Charitable Christian, or Comfort and Council both to the Rich and Poor. A third, Dooms day at band; or the great Day of the Lord drawing nigh. A tourth The Devils Discase or the sin of Pride arraigned and condemned. The fifth and last is called, The Black Book of Conscience. Very seasonable for these licentious times, and are but of two pence a piece price. All to be sold by John Andrews, at the White Lion in the Old Bailie.   
Psal. 103. 19 The Lord hath propered his throne in the heaven and his Kingdom uleth over all. Psal. 245. 13. Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages. Heb. 1. 9 But unto the Son, saith he, thy chrone O God is for ever and ever a Sceptre of reghteousness is the Sceptre of thy Kingdom. 
THe great design of the Devil beloved in all ages, hath been to undermine the Church and People of God, and to seduce poor souls, by drawing and enticing them into most desperate and gross errors; the better to do this, he sometimes ransforms himself into an Angel of Light; which design of his, as it hath been vatiously carried on and managed in all. Ages, so most especially in this last and worst ●ge of the world, wherein we live.  
Among many other stratagems and devices which the Devil hath to delude people, one main if not chief design of his, hath been to exalt his Kingdom by infusing strange and unheard of principles and opinions into the hearts and minds of men, in which exploit of his he hath very notably, like a cunning deceiver acted his part in this last age of the world in which we live, witness his notable delusions of thousands of poor ignorant souls into strange and unheard of principles: among many other, our late Quakers in whom how greatly he hath prevailed, the Lord knows hath too too evidently been seen in our days— but the folly and madness of these simple sottish deluders and deceivers, hath been sufficiently declared to the world.  
Another sort more seeming wise and confident than these, are such as now among us, are known by the name of Fifth Monarchy men, that are for their generation work, as they sa●, but not in their actions; whose windy principles, by reason of the eminency of some chief deluders of that Sect, hath not a little poisoned and infected the minds and spirits of many thousands of male-contented persons among us, and this Leven of their false doctrine hath so wrought with them, as that they dare desperately set themselves to throw down and oppose all, both Government and Governors, that shall stand in the way of their designs; under pretence of setting up the Kingdom of Christ in the earty, and doing the works of their generation as if they would cross God himself, and appoint him what Government and Governors he shall set up; Who setteth up one, and pulleth down another, and there is nothing that may say unto him, what dost thou; but as God hath discovered and disowned, as well in his providential actings as in his holy word, the designs of all other deluders hitherto, blessed be God, so likewise hath he now of late the design of those over-confident and selfopinionated persons, who cry up the personal reign of Christ, on earth and doing the works of their generation, the great work wherein these super-confident men have most busied and employed both their wits and parts, hath been mainly to throw down whatsoever in the world crosseth or opposerh their designs.  
Witness that notable, but perniticus design of theirs lately on foot, against the Ministers and Ministry of Christ, a most notable and cunning device of the Devil, in which most destructive design, the Devil and all his instruments are most deeply engaged in, but as God was then pleased to blast that wretched design of theirs, against the whole Ministry and School of good learning, so I hope he will still be pleased to ensnare them in all their undertake whatsoever. The great policy of these men is to lay down all, both Learning Ministry, and Governors though never so just and right as Antichristian and Babylonish, thereby I ying an odium as it were upon the ways and institutions of Christ himself, that so by their specious pretences they may work themselves and their doctrines into the good opinions of such, whose affections (like  people) are itching after Novelty. But how greatly Antichristian these men are in those and all other their designs, I shall here endeavour, God willing, to manifest and declare to all the world.  
First, these generation Workmen both in their Writings and preaching, labour to possess men's minds, heads and hearts, with fond faneys and conceits of the Personal of Reign of Christ for a thousand years upon earth; which doctrine is both erroneous and also Antichristian, having no foundation or footing in the blessed Word of God, and is also derogatory to the honour and dignity of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. For our Saviour Christ himself Joh. 18. 36. saith expressly, that his Kingdom is not of this world; And if not of this world, than no personal reign upon earth.  
Secondly Jesus Christ when he left the world, ascended 〈…〉 heaven and is there sat down at the right hand of God the Father; from whence he will not return till such time as he shall come to judgement. I will come again (saith Christ Joh. 14. 3. to his Disciples) but mark the words, it shall be not to reign personally upon earth with you but to receive you to myself, that where I am there ye may be also, which is at the right hand of God the Father, in heaven.  
We have not any one place or text of Scripture which mentions any coming of Christ to reign upon earth in his humane nature personally, which these men fond dream of: We read indeed of a second coming of Christ, but than it is to judgement, Judas 14. 15. Behold the Lord cometh (saith the Text) with ten thousands of his Saints to execuee judgement upon all, and to convince all, And Psal. 96. 13. For lo he cometh, for he cometh, faith the Psalmist; but it is not personally to reign, but to judge the earth: Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly. I deny not but that the Lord Jesus Christ shall in these latter days have amost glorious Kingdom in the world, but than it shall be a spiritual and holy Kingdom in the hearts and lives of his people. And thus hath Christ reigned in some measure more or less, ever since his coming in the flesh, yea ever since the beginning of the world; and thus, and thus only shall Christ reign, till we all come to reign with him in heaven. For he must reign, saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.  
Likewise also consider, how detogarory this doctrine of an earthly reign, is to the honour and dignity of the Lord Jesus Christ, what is Christ gone to heaven, there to live and reign as Lord and King for ever with his Father, and shall men conceit or imagine that he shall leave his Father's glory, and a most glorious and heavenly Kingdom for an earthly Kingdom! Certainly this is a most gross absurdity, and great affront to the honour and dignity of the Lord Jesus Christ thus to conceit: is not he King over all, and doth he not rule in the Kingdoms of men? Is not the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and shall any ignoble him so as have him to have but an earthly Kingdom, to rule and govern like a Monarch in the world? O horrible indignity. This fond conceit of Christ personal reign upon earth, may be likened to the fond conceit and blind opinion of the Jews, who looking for the glorious coming of Christ as their King, to live and reign as a King and Monarch upon earth, could not stoop so low as to see him lying in a manger; which fond opinion of theirs, they were and are even at this very day so confident of, that they both flight and despise the coming of Christ indeed; and so I pray God out Monarchical generation. Workmen, who would pull down Christ from his throne in Heaven to set him up upon earth, I pray God, I say, that these men be not found to be the men that resist and withstand both the Kingdom and power of Jesus Christ, Certainly these men's doctrines, let them say what they will, are altogether Antichristian and abominable.  
Another design of these generation Workmen, in which they have not been a little active, is to cry down all institution of Government both in Church and State, though never so sacred, as Antichristian and unlawful thereby seeking like cunning Engineers, to undermine both Religion and Government in its very foundation; but how Antichristian and unlawful the designs and actings of these very men themselves are, is not a little apparent: Hath God in his word set up Governors and Government in the world, and as he himself saith, it is by him that King's reign, and Princes decree justice, and shall these men in their blind zeal go about to throw them down? Did Christ himself and all his Disciples after him pray for, and quietly submit themselves in all godliness and honesty, to the government of these men when they lived, giving them all honour, and paying tribute and custom to them, and shall Mr. Feak and Mr. Rogers and others of this generation, preach against and pray against all Government and Governors? O horrible Antichristian doctrine: Do these men preach the Gospel? certainly no. Doth the word of God, 1 Tim. 2. 2 commend men that are in authority, and shall these men go about to pull down all rule and authority? May we, if we ourselves will, lead a quiet and peaceable life under our Governors and government, in all godliness and honesty, and shall we with tumults go about to embroil ourselves and the whole Nation in blood and misery? Doth the word of God Rom. 13. 1, 2. say expressly, that there is no power but of God, and that the powers which now are are of God, who setteth up and pulleth down whom he pleases, and shall these men say they are not of God but of Antichrist? Certainly this is no other than to give God the lie. Must we be subject (as the word of God saith) not only for wrath but for conscience sake, and shall men under vain pretences of they know not what, refuse to yield subjection, and contrive, plot and conspire against them and their authority? What is this but instead of setting of Christ up to reign, but to pull Christ down from his throne? Are not these then strange and unheard of doctrines? the Lord convince them of their folly, and give them a sight and sense of their errors.  
Another doctrine and design of these men altogether as derogatory from the truth as the other, is this; That that the government of the world shallbe invested into the hands of the Saints, of whom they think themselves to be chie●; which doctrine how pernicious and destructive it hath been, former ages have sadly experienced. I confess it were a good thing and desirable, and I would to God it might so be, that all Governors whatsoever might be good and upright men, men fearing God and hating covetousness, that our Princes may be Peace, and our Exactors righteousness, that so judgement and justice might run down like a mighty stream; this indeed were a good thing, and a thing greatly to be desired, and which indeed ought to be endeavoured after by all: And I could wish that all those whose right it is both to choose and constitute Officers of all sorts, would on all occasions make choice of such men. But to teach or maintain that Saints as Saints ought to bear rule in the world, is derogatory from the rule of Scripture, and would be pernicious if not destructive to all humane society.  
Lastly, I wish those men themselves thus engaged in the work of their generation (as they say) and all others, seriously to consider how greatly they advance thy Kingdom of Satan above the Kingdom of Christ; for it's the Devil's doctrine to preach down government and Governors, it's his work to pull down Ministers and Ministry: yea, it is the Devils main design to root out of the world both Ministry and Magistracy, and all other Schools of Learning, good education, and knowledge; for it's the Ministers by their preaching the Gospel, that oppose the Kingdom of Satan. And it's not a little considerable, how highly these men go about to gratify as well the bloody Papists, as the Devil also; what more can the Devil or the Papists wish or desire, then to see Learning and knowledge taken away from among us? who then shall be able to resist or gainsay their ridiculous, soul-damning, desperate doctrine, and tradition? how soon then will men be infected with the poison of Popery? and how easily may men be drawn aside, when there is none to guide or instruct them in the ways of truth? men are of themselves too too apt to be led aside with error, and they must needs fall into the snares of the Devil when they neither see it nor hear of it; and as for the Devil, how greatly doth he rejoice at such workings as these?  
Certainly these generation workmen, I mean those of the Fifth Monarchy, would save the Devil a great deal of labour, if they could but beat down Ministry and Magistracy, which is the great work which the Devil hath been doing ever since he was a Devil: if once that work were done, than he might easily go on without contradiction in deluding and deceiving poor souls. The Lord prevent both him and them, and still keep up a Gospel Ministry, a powerful preaching Ministry in the world, especially in these nations, which I am confident shall be even to the end of the world so long as there is a soul to save, there shall be, in despite of the Devil and all his instruments, a Minister to preach salvation; for Ephes. 4. 11. Christ gave some Prophets, some Apostles some Pastors, and some Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, which must continue to the end of the world. But these men will say, they would pull down Antichristian Ministers and Learning, of which sort they account all our learned, reverend, and godly Divines; yet they would set up a more heavenly way of preaching, which should be all by the inspiration of the spirit, without either learning, gifts or tongues: Certainly these men do not know what spirit they are of themselves. What ground or promise is there in all the word of God for any such extraordinary inspirations and infusions of the spirit which these men dream of? Doth not the spirit of God say, To the Law and to the Testimony? And ye do well (saith St. Peter) to take heed to the word, as to a light that shineth in dark places. In the Epistle to Timothy, St. Paul adviseth Timothy to give attendance to reading to exhortation, and to doctrine, and not to neglect the gift that was in him: But certainly these men would not only deceive themselves, but also the whole Nation. And should these men (which God forbidden) these generation workmen, have but their wills and ways, what fad and disorderly do should we have? where should we look for justice, conscience, or honesty among men, seeing the spirits of these men are by Divine inspiration, as they say? Certainly, in stead of having our generation work done, we should have Satan's design carried on, which would be to kill and destroy all that shall gainsay them, which the Lord forbidden.  
I shall conclude all with this exhortation to all men, first, to fear God; and secondly, to submit peaceably and quietly to all that are in authority over us, that we living peaceably under them, may lead a godly, quiet, and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty; and not to plot or conspire either directly or indirectly against either the persons or power of those under whom we live, whom God hath set over us to rule and execute authority over us for good. The good Lord either convert or confound the devices of all those that bear evil will to the peace and prosperity of these three Nations, and continue Government and Governors amongst us, both Ministry and Magistracy, in despite of all opposers: And the good Lord grant that none may be suffered under pretence of the Kingdom of Christ upon earth, to set up themselves as Christ's Deputies to rule and reign. And my desire is, that all the Kingdoms of the world may become the Kingdoms of Christ, I mean spiritually, not in a Monarchical manner; that Christ may live and reign in our hearts by the power of his grace and spirit, in a more heavenly life and conversation, that so we may every one of us submit to the blessed Sceptre of his Kingdom, which is a Sceptre of righteousness and holiness, peace and quietness; not of envy or malice, hatred or revenge: that so we may every one of us be doing the works of our generation, which is not to raise tumults and commotions in the world, but to live peaceably and quietly in those places and conditions which God hath set us in, submitting ourselves (as the Apostle saith) to the higher powers, and, as we are bound to pray for them; giving to all their due, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, honour to whom honour is due, Rom. 13. 7. as we have Christ and his Apostles for our examples, that the name of Christ and Religion may not be evil spoken of; and as for the Government of the world, let us leave that to God, who alone pulleth down and setteth up: Let it be our work and our business to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, that so we may at the end of our days receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.  
You have seen now what the Kingdom of Christ is, an holy and heavenly Kingdom, not a carnal and earthly Kingdom, as vain men fond conceive, but an eternal Kingdom in the highest Heaven. Let us therefore receiving this Kingdom which cannot be moved, have grace in our hearts, whereby we may serve God acceptably with fear and reverence, Heb 12. 28. that so after this sinful life is ended, we may live and reign with Christ for ever in the world to come.  
AMEN.  
FINIS