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of learning how they manage in secret to keep up their communion with God.”
Bengel did not consider theology to be a mere knowledge of the art of dying : “ The Christian’s most important business is to emerge from a state of sin to a confirmed state of grace, and herein to wait, not for death, but for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” For he regarded “ death as only a thing by the way, and not pro- perly a part of God’s arrangement for man, because not originally such.” When seriously ill in 1735 he said, “ Neither bliss nor per- dition are in my thoughts, and yet the impression grows so awful that my mind is at length pained by it.” “ I commit myself to my faithful Creator, my intimate Redeemer, my tried and approved Comforter. I know not where to find anything comparable to my Saviour. Only let me be made no account of, when I am gone : I wish my spiritual experience 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. 6 Judge nothing before the time.’ Is it not better that it should be said to me in that day, 6 Art thou also here V than that it should be said, 6 Where is such and such a renowned saint % ’ Let nothing be made of my 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.”
He prayed that God would not permit him to continue in the world out of season. He said to GEtinger, “ Illnesses serve to quicken and enlarge us in spirit, after we have been dwindling, as a bud slow in bursting into blossom. When our spiritual lamp burns dimly, it is often because its wick needs retrenching.” On recovery, he said, “ I find myself awakened to circumspection much more by consider- ing 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 Divine mercy ? But in the former case, I have still the duties of a steward.”
During one illness he sent for a student in the Institution, and requested him to impart a word of consolation. The youth replied, u Sir, I am but a pupil, a mere learner ; I don’t know what to say to a teacher like yo w.” “ What !” said Bengel, “ a divinity student,
and not able to communicate a word of Scriptural comfort !” The student, abashed, contrived to utter the text, “ The blood of 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 affec- tionately by the hand, dismissed him.
In 1746 he said, “ I feel in a manner satiated of this life. O if my faithful God grant me only with this feeling a spirit of entire self-renunciation, all will be well. Probably I shall soon be ripe.” And in 1749, “The nearer my advancing years bring me to the gate of eternity, the more gladly do I turn away from the exterior
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