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Robert Fleming was born at Bathans in 1630, the son of a
minister of the gospel, James Fleming. He studied under Samuel
Rutherford, one of the appointees to the committee that produced
the Westminster Confession of Faith.
By the time he was 23, he was a
pastor at Cambuslang, in Clydesdale until after the restoration
of King Charles II. He had seven children by Christina Hamilton.
He lived at Edinburgh until September of 1673 when "all the
ministers in and about Edinburgh were called to appear before
the Council to hear their sentence, and repair to the places of
their confinement." He and other Protestant teachers were
being persecuted for their beliefs contrary to the Catholic
Church. He chose not to appear. As a result, he was persued,
eventually apprehended, and imprisoned in the Tolbooth of
Edinburgh. After his release he went to Holland.
He had a custom established from
sometime around his sixteenth or seventeenth year of age
"to set apart the first day of every year for renewing his
covenant with God; and if interrupted that day, to take the next
day following." Following is a sample taken from his
journal.
1691. In the entry of this new
year, as I have now done for many years most solemnly, I desire
again to renew my personal engaging of myself to the Lord my
God, and for Him, and with my whole heart and desire to enter
myself into His service, and take on His blessed yoke, and
humbly to lay claim, take, and embrace Him (O Him!) To be my
God, my all, my light, and my salvation, my shield, and
exceeding great reward." ("The Scots Worthies,"
by John Howie, of Lochgoin. Edingburgh and London: Oliphant,
Anderson, & Ferrier, 1870, page 574)
He produced many works: Confirming
Work of Religion, Epistolary
Discourse, and
The Fulfilling of the Scriptures. He left behind a writing called, A
Short Index of some of the Great Appearances of the Lord in the
Dispensations of His Providence to His Poor Servant."
Apparently, the Lord moved miraculously upon Robert Fleming.
Following are excerpts taken from that work and recording in
Scots Worthies on pages 578 - 560.
3. The strange and extraordinary
impression I had of an audible voice in the church at night,
when, being a child, I had got up to the pulpit, calling me to
make haste.
10. The extraordinary dream and
marvelous vision I had, twice repeated, with the inexpressible
joy after the same.
21. The dream at Boussay, wherein
I got such express warning as to my wife's removal, with the
Lord's marvelous appearance and presence the Thursday after, at
St. Johnston's.
24. Those great and signal
confirmations give me at my wife's death, and that great
extraordinary voice, so distinct and clear, which I heard a few
nights after her death.
34. The remarkable warning I was
forced to give, that some present should be taken away by death
before next Lord's-day.
If, as the Reformed camp
generally maintains, the spiritual gifts have ceased, then how
could such a strong Calvinist have visions and dreams prophetic
in nature, hear audible voices, an "appearance" of the
Lord, and prophecy, all, of which, came true? Apparently, this Calvinist was
not a cessationist.
Calvinist Corner
Copyright by Matthew J. Slick,
B.A., M. Div., 2005
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