On the subject of inspiration he writes, “ The apostles themselves have drawn the most important inferences from Scripture terms of the utmost brevity, as in Heb. ii. 8, xii. 17, vii. 3, 14; Gal. iii. 16. As to the general inspiration of all Scripture, I am satisfied with this position, The ivhole Sacred Volume is in most beautiful harmony with itself (omnia se quadrant). As we cannot contemplate a globe without observing how round and complete it is, so to an attentive observer are the Scriptures.”
His spiritual life was benefited too by his connection with a society formed of Christian students in Tubingen, for the promotion of vital godliness among themselves and their friends. A severe sickness, which he had in 1705, brought him to the verge of death : but in the height of it he felt the secret assurance of the Psalmist, Ps. cxviii. 17, ifI shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” The effect of this discipline was to lead him to resolve, through God’s help, “ to devote entirely to God’s service this renewed grant of temporal life.” His tour through Germany, by bringing him in contact with pious men of very different views, gave his re- ligious character a catholicity of spirit, alike removed from cold for- malism and sectarian fanaticism.
In opening the institution atDenkendorf, Hochstetter, as president, delivered the inauguration speech : Zeller, as senior tutor, delivered a similar speech; and Bengel, as junior tutor, took, as the subject of his Latin speech, which was the third delivered, “ The diligent pur- suit of piety the surest method of attaining true learning :” adopting Aristotle’s position, that the three chief requisites for sound learning are natural abilities , instruction , and application , he proceeded to show that fervent piety is the life and soul of these requisites. He drew up for the pupils a plan raisonnb of study, entitled “The Denkendorf ‘ Die cur hie,’ ” in which he stedfastly kept in view the one object which in every thing should be our influencing motive, the glory of God, a good conscience, and the public good ; that the object of education should be, not so much to inform , as to fowl, the pupil. So successful was he in winning the affections of the pupils, whilst directing them towards the highest aims, that many of them corresponded with him during the rest of their lives and his : for in- stance, J. F. Reuss, afterwards Chancellor of the University; C. F. GEtinger, afterwards prelate of Murrhardt, etc. From his twenty- sixth to his fifty-fourth year he continued his arduous duties as a tutor. Being called to the dignity of Prelate of Herbrechtingen, on the 24th of April 1741 he closed his duties, as he had begun them twenty-eight years before, with a Latin speech on “ The beneficial influence of piety upon the studies of the rising generation.”
As a preacher he soon became very ready : his maxim was to “ think much and write little ;” yet to the end of his life he composed a sketch of every sermon. He held it as an axiom, that “ grace begins where natural means can go no farther ;” u that it was only