Here are words from Robert Bruce, the 16-17th Scottish pastor who often–in the middle of his sermons–exhorted his civil magistrates and King James (VI & I) who were physically present.
It lies in your hands [King James], Sire, as the Lord’s chosen instrument, to ensure that this day of grace continues among us. We know that there are two means whereby it may continue. The first is the removal of false religion, for it is appalling? that those who are enemies of Christ Jesus should have been tolerated for so long in a Christian land. It is a foul and horrible thing! Therefore take it on your heart to deal decisively in this, even if you yourself in person have to arrest those who are openly opposing Jesus Christ. Be assured that you will have done great service for God. These enemies of the truth have been accepted these past seven or eight years, and they have been better tolerated as if the sentences passed against them had never been ratified. (They themselves bear witness to that by the way they are behaving.) Therefore, once you agree to attend to this matter, let us see your majesty acting as diligently in this as in the past you have been in other matters. [from his sermon on Heb 11:13-14, pg 185.]
The very next sermon Bruce preached these words:
There is a second point to note regarding the nature of the country, kingdom and glory that is offered to you in the evangel of Jesus Christ. In the promises offered in Christ’s gospel, even though these holy Fathers were far off in time from the incarnation of Jesus Christ, that is, his manifestation in the flesh, yet in his promises they saw a heavenly life offered to them in a spiritual kingdom and everlasting glory. They did not look in these promises for an earthly kingdom, temporal rest or happiness, but for a spiritual, divine and eternal blessedness. Therefore, the Fathers’ example condemns their carnal children, both those who were alive while they were on earth, and we who live in later generations; I speak of those who think that in Christ and his promises they will obtain worldly, outward happiness. Yea, the day will come when the Fathers will rise up to condemn such carnality.
Some may ask, ‘But what if we seek righteously the fulfillment of Christ’s promises?’ I answer that we must not seek from him outward, temporal rest and prosperity, nor any worldly glory or earthly kingdom; rather must we seek from him his spiritual kingdom and a heavenly glory unseen by human eyes that will not be made known until Christ shall appear in the clouds. Seek a spiritual rest, the inward peace of your consciences and the quietening of your hearts. For if you seek these blessings earnestly, assuredly you will receive them. But if you come to Christ hoping for earthly repose and prosperity, when worldly things do come to you they will soon lose their glamour; consequently what you thought you had gained from the hand of Christ shall disappoint you and so you will end up leaving the Master. Therefore I repeat, seek only spiritual and heavenly rest in him. Continue in your suit and you shall never be disappointed.
[taken from his sermon on Heb 11:15-16, pg 201. I highly recommend his sermons]
Was Bruce a CN? Would he promote CN? How about New Christendom (which is virtually indistinguishable from CN)? Was Bruce inconsistent? Was he actually an R2K pietist?
I am not accusing Bruce of inconsistency, nor am I cherry-picking him. These are very representative quotes from his sermons. But it seems to me, if you plopped Bruce into 21st cent America he would want nothing to do with CN/NC…
With all love and respect,
Sincerely,
