- Robert Fleming, Minister
Robert Fleming (1630 - 25 July 1694) was a Scottish Presbyterian Minister. Following the Restoration of King Charles II, he declined to accept bishops in the Kirk. He was therefore ejected as Minister at
Cambuslang .He was born at "St Bathens", near
Dunbar , the son of the Minister ofYester Parish Church , James Fleming, whose first wife (not "Robert’s" mother) had been Martha Knox, eldest daughter ofJohn Knox . Robert was educated first atEdinburgh University , where he excelled at the sacred languages, then atSt Andrews University where he studiedCalvinist Theology underSamuel Rutherford . When he was only 20 he had joined the Covenanting army under David Leslie at The Battle of Dunbar (1650). Following the defeat and execution of King Charles I, and the conquest ofScotland , by theNew Model Army ofOliver Cromwell he was called to be Minister ofCambuslang , when only 24. He remained there until the Restoration, when King Charles II re-established episcopacy in theChurch of Scotland . Robert declined to accept this and in 1673 was summoned to explain himself at the Privy Council inEdinburgh . He did not appear but was later apprehended and imprisoned inEdinburgh Tollbooth . He was later liberated and made his way toLondon . From there he was called to become the Minister of the ScotsKirk inRotterdam inHolland . While there, he was accused, but cleared, of plotting with the enemies of the King (by that time, theRoman Catholic [James II of England|King James II and VII] ). Later, after the King’s enemies had triumphed with the invasion ofEngland by William of Orange (1688) he was free to visit London. It did not last long, for, following an illness, he died there on 25 July 1694. (Though there is some indication, in the The Second Statistical Account of Scotland, that he had been restored to Cambuslang, and died there.) Robert Fleming was renowned as a preacher and wrote a number of Calvinist theological books.His son, alsoRobert Fleming, Junior , who became a noted Calvinist theologian, succeeded him as Minister of the Scots Kirk in Rotterdam.Publications by Robert Fleming, Senior
* "Fulfilling of the Scripture, or An essay shewing the exact accomplishment of the Word of God in his works of providence, performed & to be performed. : For confirming the beleevers [sic] , and convincing the atheists of the present time: containing in the"… (1671)
* "Faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the great events of his word, or, A second part of The fulfilling of the Scripture : where its convincing and near approach before mens eyes, with some clear discovery thereof in the work and conduct of providence"… (1674)
* "Scripture truth confirmed and cleared by some great appearances of God for his church under the New Testament : held forth with some special remarks thereon. From her first rise & planting amongst the nations, and that blessed recovery of late from Antichrist"… (1678)
* "Church wounded and rent by a spirit of division, held forth in a short account of some sad differences hath been of late in the Church of Scotland, with the occasion, grounds, and too evident product thereof whose wounds are bleeding to this day". (1681)
* "Confirming worke of religion: in its necessity and use briefly held forth; that each Christian may have a proper ballast of his own, of the grounds and reasons of his faith"… (1685)
* "Confirming work of religion, or, Its great things made plain, by their primary evidences and demonstrations: whereby the meanest in the church may soon be made to render a solid and rational account of their faith" (1693)
* "Present aspect of our times, and of the extraordinary conjunction of things therein. : In a rational view and prospect of the same; as it respects the publick hazard and safety of Brittain in this day. Licensed November 29. 1693". (1694)ources
* Howie, John "Biographia Scoticana " J Dick & Co Edinburgh (1828)
* Thomson, Thomas (ed) "The Rise and Fall of Papacy (1701) by The Rev Robert Fleming Jnr, Minster of the Gospel London, edited with a memoir of the author". John Johnstone Edinburgh (1849)
* Porter, Wm Henry "Cambuslang and its Ministers" (inMitchell Library - Glasgow Collection, reference GC941.433 CAM 188520 Box 952
* Scott, Hew "Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae V4: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation Edinburgh" (1922)
* Wilson, James Alexander OBE, MD "A History of Cambuslang: a Clydesdale parish". Jackson Wylie & Co Glasgow (1929)
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