may well imagine I must have had many a painful hour there. But it was a time for seeking the face of God. This I did; and he sent help from above. For immediately after I had been praying to him, it occurred to me that I ought to be satisfied with the nearest medical assistance I could procure, and that he could show his favour towards me just as well by a person of ordinary skill, as by one of the greatest repute. I therefore sent for one who lived close by; and as I had believed, so was it done unto me. I am now quite recovered, and at my work again, but longing and praying for the rest which remaineth to the people of God, whether I am to enter into it earlier or later. Indeed I have a foretaste of it already, in my daily employment."

"Last Thursday I suffered violently from cholic and gravel. Some of the paroxysms were unusually severe; but at present I am without pain, and even indulge a hope that I shall continue so for a while. I am thankful to God for such chastenings, as well as for his previous and subsequent sparing mercy and help."

In November 1735, a serious epidemic prevailed; and Bengel himself began to suffer by it on the fourth of that month. But even after this disease had gained considerably upon him, he could not think it right to remain within doors, but continued to preach till after the sixth, when having delivered a sermon upon Matt. xviii. 20-35, "On the three sorts of reckoning which God makes with men," he became, as soon as the service was over, considerably worse. He had felt weaker while preaching; but had gone on with his sermon, because he was experiencing such spiritual joy, that he could gladly have died in the pulpit. During the fever he had strong delirium; but at intervals "endeavoured to collect his thoughts, that he might be in readiness for whatever his heavenly Father should appoint." His cousin, the Rev. Mr. Schmidlin, stood at his bedside, and heard him express himself as follows:

"In my inward man, things go on by sudden impressions (celeres puncturas.) It often happens that all joy is denied me. I have frequently a deep and awful sense of eternity, unaccompanied by any immediate pleasure or pain. Neither bliss nor perdition are at the time in my thoughts, and yet the impression grows so awful that my mind is at length pained by it. A charming state of thought gleams at intervals, but soon leaves

me. However, I try in quietness and composure to improve my small gifts (minutiæ); for I know that even with these I must be faithful. My mother has often given me a gentle rebuke for over-scrupulousness; saying, that if the main matter be attended to, all will be well. But I retreat behind some such arguments as the following. There are vegetables which would satisfy our absolute wants, just as they are gathered; but good housewives do not suffer them to come to table without a careful picking and cleansing. When a garment has ever so small a rent in it, neat persons will always get it repaired, though for its main use it might answer the purpose as it is.”

On November 10, his remarks were continually upon the subject of death. He was cheerfully preparing himself by prayer for joining the church triumphant, and for being numbered with God's saints in glory everlasting. He was frequently breathing the words of the psalmist, "As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." Ps. xlii. "I have nothing," he said, "to detain me here; God only vouchsafe to open my eyes, reveal every thing to me, and make me perfectly humble and submissive to his will.”

"I commit myself," he said, "to my faithful Creator, my intimate Redeemer, my tried and approved Comforter. I know not where to find any thing comparable to my Saviour. Only let me be made no account of, especially when I am gone. I wish my spiritual experience to be no more obtruded upon the world after my death, than it has been during my life. As 'man's judgment' can neither benefit nor hurt me, so things will appear in quite a different light at the great day. 'Judge nothing before the time.' Is it not better that it should be said to me in that day, 'Art thou also here?' than that it should be said, 'Where is such and such a renowned saint?' Much human infirmity still adheres in this life even to gracious characters. Let nothing be made of any expressions that I may happen to utter upon my death-bed. Jesus, with his apostles and martyrs, is light sufficient for all that survive me. I am no light. The example of a dying Christian in the present day, is for the benefit of his family in private; not for the gaze of the world. Human beings are often made too much of by one another, and things are cried up about them which turn out to be nothing at last. I can fully confide in pious persons, as such, however the world may despise them. But still they are creatures, and they are human; so that it seems impossible to confide to any one

of them implicitly one's whole self. I delight to think of young and active disciples now engaged in the heat of the battle, many of whom were not born when I was in my vigour. I look upon myself as a tree decaying with age. My work on the Holy Scriptures, (Criticism of the New Testament,) it gives me pleasure to think of before the Lord, harsh as are the human judgments which it brings upon me from the good as well as the bad. The dawn of its future usefulness already rejoices my heart; posterity will have more light still, and will profit by it. Yet though my own mind were now full of the most important discoveries, it would not keep me a moment from wishing to go home."

He then mentioned his library, and said that "in the event of his death, he did not desire it to be reserved for the use of his children, but to be immediately arranged and disposed of; as there would soon be a great change in the state of literature, and that books of a quite different kind would make their appearance."

He again solemnly and affectingly expressed his lively confidence in the grace of Christ, and how he desired to depart and to be with Him. He prayed that God would not permit him to continue in the world out of season, but that, if a short time still remained to him for further usefulness, he might yet be spared, even should it be to outlive his family, and to see all his children pass over before him. Gen. xxxii. 23. But if the present were the best opportunity for his departure, he prayed that God would not permit it to go by."

But he
I see

On the 17th of November his friends thought his last moment arrived, and Schmidlin begged his parting blessing. replied, "It is not come to that yet, my dear cousin. clearly that I am at some distance from the haven, and shall be driven for a while out to sea again. I only pray God that my remaining days may not be useless, how little soever I may be able to do. But I will take courage; for little drops form abundant showers; single stones make up a fortification; and a stone itself is composed of small sand-grains, &c. The most important transactions of justice are not brought about by skill in jurisprudence, nor are the most heroic achievements wrought by the prowess of warriors, nor the most valuable remedies discovered by the genius of physicians; neither are the still more valuable healings of souls devised by the talents and acquirements of christian ministers. No; let every one do what he can, however

little it may be. A gardener sows his little seed, or plants his little slip, &c. without knowing what it may come to, or whether it will come to any thing. So it is with all other human works. Only let every one faithfully, cheerfully, and without anxiety for the event, do whatsoever his hand findeth to do.”

About the same time his friend Oetinger visited him; to whom he said, "Illnesses serve to quicken and enlarge us in spirit, after we have been dwindling (quasi in flore interno) like a bud that is slow in bursting into blossom and fragrance. When our spiritual lamp burns dimly, it is often because its wick needs retrenching; by which I mean those retrenchments that are made from time to time upon the outward man, by sickness and affliction. Thus our carnal encumbrances get removed by little and little, till they are totally and deservedly consumed. O what noble elevation, liberty, and ease do we experience, when we yield our hearts entirely to those gracious influences by which our heavenly Father of his own good pleasure draws us to Jesus Christ his Son; and which are always so exactly suited to the condition of each individual, that they may be readily and cheerfully complied with, and followed in preference to all human teaching and example, however good and excellent! With what safety and security are we guided by his eye, when we lay all our concerns before him, and submit them cordially and implicitly to him! How singly does that all-seeing eye aim at, and with what admirable simplicity does it direct us unto, whatever is good and profitable, not only to ourselves, but to many others at the same time with us! Holy Paul had not a more endeared associate than Timothy; and it is natural enough to ask, what was the favourite subject of communication between two such men of God. That apostle himself informs us what it was, when he sums up all at the close of his glorious course; and it is found to consist of faith, love, and hope. I own, that a congeniality of taste with the whole family of God has, by the simple use of Scripture, insensibly grown upon me; which saves me much troublesome inquiry and casuistry, and leads me off from many an elaborate definition upon a variety of very important subjects. I have now no need of these artificial processes. Set aside Divine revelation, and I have nothing left but natural elements, (theories originating in the reason of fallen man,) whereas, (I as a fallen man want help and information from God;) I want elements of information which are spiritual, influential, and

practical. And very little of this kind is ever gained by all our human considerations and reasonings. It is a spirit of affectionate obedience actuating our every movement, that is the safeguard against error, and the immediate guide to truth."

"Jan. 1, 1741.

"I find myself awakened to circumspection much more by considering that I may have a little longer to live, than by thinking I may be just going to have done with this life. For what have I to do in the latter case except to fall at once into the arms of the divine mercy, in which I am constantly trusting that it will bring me through at last? But in the former case, I have still the duties of a steward to attend to; and, as 'it is required of a steward that he be found faithful,' I thus feel more impressively, while it lasts, the weight of my commission."

During one of his illnesses, Bengel, desiring consolation from some spiritual brother, and no one being at hand except a student of the Institution, he sent for such an one, and requested him to impart a word of consolation. The youth replied, "Sir, I am but a pupil, a mere learner; I don't know what to say to a teacher like you.” "What!" said Bengel, "a divinity student, and not able to communicate a word of scriptural comfort!" The student, quite abashed and confused, then contrived to utter the following text, "The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us from all sin." "That is

the very word I want," said Bengel, "it is quite enough ;" and, taking him affectionately by the hand, he dismissed him.

April 14, 1742.

"How weary am I of the mere letter, as contradistinct to the spirit of what is good. Yes, how insipid and poor do I find every device and agency which originates in fallen man! Well; there is a particular pleasure in thinking we have advanced so far out of this mortal life, as to be subject to very few more of its changes and chances."

"June 25, 1742.

"How near do I seem to the time of putting off this frail tabernacle! In how many things was I busily engaged but a little while ago, and they are now gone by and done with for ever! The Lord bring us at length unto himself!"