"To abide in the Lord Jesus is very

needful."

"The more we discover from time to time of God's faithfulness and truth towards us, the more do we feel urged to bless, love, and trust him, upon all occasions."

“The habit of instructing others gives a facility of communicating our thoughts in a distinct and perspicuous manner.”

We may regard what we have called Bengel's religious education as finished by his tour through Germany in the summer of 1713. Ardent and successful as he was in the pursuit of intellectual acquirements, he never made these his principal, much less his exclusive object; and was disposed to avail himself of that tour in order to collect things valuable for the heart, no less than for the understanding; and "to seek out especially those excellent men, who, though rich in wisdom and goodness, had never communicated their treasures by the press." Hence he often met with persons of deep christian experience, as well as with many celebrated writers of the day; all of whom, in various ways, but in rectitude and singleness of heart, served the Lord Christ both publicly and privately, and sought to promote his kingdom by every laudable endeavour. Of these may particularly be mentioned J. E. Stolthe of Jena, Weidling of Weissenfels, L. C. Crell, the two Langs, Tennhardt, and Augustus Hermann Franke. His acquaintance with those excellent men was much more than a common exchange of civilities. He passed whole days and weeks in their domestic circles, and enjoyed the benefit of their converse when it most unbent itself. Though in them and in other valuable friends whom he had gained upon his tour, he found considerable differences upon religious points; some being zealous Lutherans, others rigid Calvinists, some Spenerians, others Inspirati, others Separatists, and one, at Altorf, of the Greek church, whose name was Alexander Helladius of Larissa; yet their very differences, considering how they agreed in the main matter of faith, hope, and endeavour, served only to instruct and edify himself. Every thing which could be urged for this or that religious opinion, his reflecting mind heard vigorously advanced by living advocates; a thing which influenced him far more safely than mere book-learning would have done, to take that happy middle course which is as distant from fanatical enthusiasm and secta

rianism, as it is from cold and heartless speculation. He also conversed with many who were in evident, and even important error; but their amiable character and conduct, with their valuable and active beneficence, served only to confirm him in that noble forbearance of the true christian believer, which, as it is any thing but indifference, so is it most exercised by those whose faith in Christ, as the Saviour of all men, is the most confirmed. He returned home with his heart established in grace, humbled at having found so many far beyond himself in christian attainments, inspired with a holy zeal to follow up their examples, and enlarged in liberal-mindedness and love. And as he could not but witness, what must strike every observant traveller in Europe, the awful corruption of the world at large, especially when he heard so many pious and eminently gifted men affectingly complain of the manifold daily hinderances thrown in the way of their activity for the kingdom of God, how could he help ejaculating, with the believing Psalmist, for his country and for mankind, "O that the salvation were come out of Zion: O that the Lord would deliver his people out of captivity!"

We close our remarks on the advantages he derived from this tour, by inserting two letters which he wrote at the time from Halle, where he found real practical Christianity concentrated. The first was addressed to a young friend, in Latin, and may serve to show the progress of his mind; the second is to his mother, and bespeaks the improvement of his heart.

66

"MY DEAR COUSIN,

66

Halle, 17th June, 1713.

"I can assure you, that the farther I have proceeded on my travels, the more good I have gained: for which incalculable benefit I would ever be thankful to our heavenly Father, and would entreat you all who love me, to be thankful with me. I shall resume the account of my journey from where I ended in my letter to you from Nuremberg, on the 23d of March. The acquaintance I have formed with persons of eminent learning at Coburg, Saalfield, Rudolstadt, and Weimar, has afforded me many advantages. With remarkable kindness they gave me much interesting information, particularly with respect to the conducting of schools and academies. Indeed, I met with most information of this sort where I expected least. On the 5th of April I came to Jena. I had not intended making a long stay there, but, by the providence of God, I was introduced to a man

of approved piety, and of no common learning, who received me under his roof, and treated me as one of his family: his name is Stolthe. He has great talent for awakening and stirring up others, by which he has been useful to many of the young, and his usefulness in this way is daily increasing. Many suspect or envy him, and consequently hate him; but others are most affectionately attached to him, are glad to have his guidance in their studies, and are in closest communion with him by mutual prayer. Every Lord's day he holds a prayer-meeting in his house, and another for exposition daily after dinner. To students preparing to communicate at the Lord's table, he gives instruction for several weeks beforehand, by particular exposition of subjects from the catechism.

"I derived so much benefit from the company of Buddeus and other learned men, that I stayed more than six weeks at Jena: after which I went by Naumburg and Schul-Pforte to Weissenfels, where I passed ten days, most of the time with Christian Weidling, who was very kind and affectionate, though I had honestly told him how the friends at Halle had gained my heart more than all others on my journey. He is a pious, active, and very successful man in education. He commences all its business with prayer, and loses no opportunity of giving valuable hints and encouragements in the best sense, to his pupils. He considers it very important to recapitulate with them whatever they have learnt; rightly judging it of prime consequence for them to be well grounded in all elementary principles.

"At Langendorf I viewed with great delight an Orphan Institution, which had been established by a pious carrier, named Bucher. I came to this place (Halle) on the 29th of May, and the first boarding-house I entered exactly answered my wishes; as it is but a little way from where the professors live, and is preferred by the more pious students. And now having got here, I have so much to tell you, that I know not where to begin; for I am at Halle, and could easily write a whole volume about it. First, I can assure you that every thing corresponds to the expectations I had formed of this seat of wisdom and piety, and delightful indeed do I find it to experience and see for myself, all that I had learnt from printed accounts. The new king of Prussia lately visited the Orphan-house, and conferred a special privilege upon it, which already is generally known. The Royal Pædagogium is in a very flourishing condition, and quite

answers the description given of it three years ago in a printed account of its formation; besides that all can now be conducted with greater convenience than ever, as the tutors and pupils are brought under the same roof, having a new large abode assigned them at a little distance from the Orphan-house. In both of these establishments I find very much that is useful to myself; but the advantage I value most, is the kindness and attention shown me by Mr. Freyer. The Seventh Report of "The fruits of God's continued care over the Halle Institutions," is now in the press. Breithaupt, with the consent of the university, has holden a public (Latin) disputation with Thomasius on the subject of polygamy, from which the latter came off much chagrined, and he declares that he is misunderstood. Dr. Anton gives expositions of the Apocalypse, and lectures on the Ecclesiastical History of the Seventeenth Century; in both of which he introduces, with much unction, a variety of general remarks, that discover deep wisdom. Dr. Franke, who is much in favour with the king, has begun a course of expository lectures on the Psalms. He takes one, two, or three, of the shorter psalms each time, and goes into an accurate investigation of their meaning and object; adducing, without any prolixity, quotations from commentators, ancient and modern. To the theological students he also gives edifying lectures upon his work, entitled, “Idea Studiosi Theologiæ;" likewise, casuistical lectures upon select passages of Spener's "Theological Views and Discussions;" for instance, Discussion I. pp. 15 and 162. At private devotional meetings, and in preaching, he is often very forcible and energetic, but never forgets love. He beautifully combines earnestness with simplicity. Michaelis reads lectures on the Acts of the Apostles; and Lang does the same upon the Epistle to the Hebrews: the latter, immediately after public prayers, delivers a practical lecture upon the Sermon on the Mount. I find him a very strict and grave man, both in his life and manners, which accounts for his peculiarly tart style of writing. He also reads a lecture on the Art of Preaching, which is attended with very good effect. Here he explains texts, and shows how to sketch out a given subject. Freilinghausen lectures also upon preaching, but quite in another way. He sets the students to preach before him in a church, and then delivers his opinion upon their performances. What delights me above all is, the harmony of these men among themselves, which they study to keep up by social prayer. Good people in general at this place seem to

have much more confidence in one another than I have ever seen elsewhere; and this serves better than any other means to keep alive their exemplary spiritual zeal and watchfulness, and to prevent all drowsiness and lukewarmness. I regard it as no small favour of Providence, that I witness here so many noble living instances of what the power of the Lord can effect in us, and can make of us. I had heretofore thought myself a sort of isolated Christian, left almost entirely to my own resources; but here I learn something about the communion of saints. I have this day been again to hear Dr. Franke preach, and could not but particularly notice that this eminent man, who in his usual manner of preaching is extremely sedate and seemingly cold, as soon as he comes to touch upon the grace and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, is at once quite animated, and filled with a holy ecstasy.

"I deem it a special advantage of my journey, to have seen, in so many various instruments of the Divine Spirit, such a diversity of his gifts of grace, and such manifold operations of the power of God sanctifying and fitting men for extraordinary activity and usefulness: so that by the whole, collectively, I am better able to imagine a perfect man of God, whom no single living character can adequately represent.

"Dr. Anton, in his lectures on the Ecclesiastical History of the Seventeenth Century, takes notice not so much of those great movements in the world which interest its votaries, as of the far greater work of God, which is quietly proceeding, and silently maturing through such external events; which is what too frequently escapes the attention of common historians. With this view he notices the triumph of the truth, as brought again to light by Arndt and his followers; the inefficacy of the opposition which set in against the principles of the Jansenists; the conversion of Dr. James Reihing, who came over to Protestantism, and was elected Professor of Divinity in the University of Tübingen, &c. Professor Lang has just commenced a course of literary lectures, in which he gives memoirs of learned men, and critiques upon their writings; but I must conclude, as it is impossible for me to relate all in this letter. I will tell you more by and by, God willing, when we meet."

We append to the above letter a few passages from his travelling diary, referred to at p. 9.