1671 ROBERT FLEMING. The Fulfilling of Scripture. Historicist Eschatology of the American Revolution & Great Awakening.

Robert Fleming’s The Fulfilling of Scripture is a monumental work of Reformed theology and historicist eschatology. Fleming set out to demonstrate that Scripture, far from being merely a collection of ancient texts, provided a living blueprint for history, with every prophecy finding its "exact accomplishment" in the unfolding events of human providence.

For 18th and 19th-century readers, particularly in America, Fleming’s work served as a definitive guide for interpreting current events as divine milestones.

The Comfort of Certainty: For believers facing political or religious upheaval, Fleming provided a stabilizing narrative: no matter how chaotic the world seemed, it was moving toward a predetermined and victorious conclusion for the Church.

While Fleming was a Scottish Covenanter writing in exile, his work gained immense popularity in the American colonies and the early Republic. His influence on the American mind centered on three key areas:

1. The Millennial Hope. American Puritans and their descendants used Fleming’s framework to view the American continent as a primary theater for the "latter days." Fleming’s assertion that the Gospel would spread to the ends of the earth before the end of the world gave the American colonial project a sense of divine mission.

2. The Interpretation of the American Revolution. During the late 18th century, American ministers frequently cited Fleming to contextualize the Revolution. Many viewed the conflict with Britain through Fleming’s lens of the "pouring out of the vials" from the Book of Revelation. The fall of perceived "tyranny" was interpreted as the fulfillment of scripture regarding the weakening of the "Antichristian" powers.

3. As Apologetic for the Great Awakening. The work was issued in America in 1743, at the height of the Great Awakening, with a forward by revival-proponent Thomas Foxcroft. The introduction makes clear that the reason for its printing was to establish the biblical and prophetic credentials of the then present revival under George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Gilbert and William Tennent, etc. It was then reprinted again, for the same purpose, in 1806 concurrently with the Second Great Awakening.

Last offered at auction in 1906 as a part of the "Choice and Rare Books" auction from the library of George Bentham.

[Fleming, Robert]. The Fulfilling of 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, and Convincing the Atheists of the Present Time: Containing in the End a few rare Histories of the Works and Servants of God in the Church of Scotland. The Second Edition. Corrected, and Enlarged with several Additions both Doctrinall and Historicall. Also an Appendix is added in the End and an Index at the Beginning. Edinburgh. Printed in the Year 1671. 554pp.

Good + in original calf, overbound in 19th century calf with losses to the overbinding on the rear board. Stained on the first 20pp or so, period or early signature crossed out on the top of the title as shown. Else, remarkable crisp and clean.