An important work by one of the earliest theologians invested in the eschatological developments of the early 19th century that ultimately led to the dispensational premillennialism that dominated Evangelicalism for over 100 years. 

William Cuninghame of Lainshaw [1775–1849] was one of the most influential early premillennialist authors in the formative years of the movement, i.e. the 1820’s through the 1840’s.

Like many others in the early movement, he was fond of laying dates on everything. He dated the beginning of the reign of Antichrist to 533 A.D., to coincide with a claimed date at which Justinian I gave universal rule to the Papacy, by subtracting 1260 years from the date after the French Revolution at which it was seen to turn against the Roman Catholic Church.

The wealthy son of a prosperous tobacco merchant of Glasgow, he was educated at the University of Utrecht and he joined the Bengal civil service of the East India Company. While in India he was deeply influenced by William Carey and came back to Scotland determined to live his life in a way that was consistent with the urgent missionary nature of the Kingdom.

Eschatology was in the air at the time. He was one of a group of biblical interpreters of the early 19th century, including the famed Edward Bishop Elliott, who combined premillennialism with a more traditional historicist reading of prophecy. Though Cuninghame was not a futurist, his emphasis on the coming Millennial reign and his hermeneutic approached assisted the futurist and dispensational movement, led by the Albury Prophets, Hugh M'Neile, Edward Irving, John Nelson Darby, etc.

Fascinatingly, the present copy is not only inscribed from the author, but bears an early stamp from the Catholic Apostolic Church of Gordon Square, the flagship church of the movement Edward Irving himself helped found. Almost certainly the copy of an early Catholic Apostolic Church "Angel." 

Cuninghame, William [of Lainshaw, in the County of Ayr]. A Critical Examination of Some of the Fundamental Principles of the Rev. George Stanley Faber's Sacred Calendar of Prophecy; with an Answer to His Arguments against the Millennial Advent and Reign of Messiah. Glasgow. Hutchinson & Brookman for T. Cadell, Hatchard & Son, James Nisbet, London; and Waugh & Inees, Edinburgh. 1829. First Edition. 186pp.

God condition; original paper over boards with deteriorated paper label to spine. Hinges shaken and weak, but stable with care. Text block is sound and clean. 

Rare. No copies on the market at the time of listing.