to the central matter. The presence of God is to me more than all the learned world.”
His final illness began with his sixty-sixth year, June 24, 1752. Calm, serene, and silent, his soul reposed on God. Though he felt bound to utter from his heart whatever might occur to it, as likely to be of service to his friends around, yet he desired to use brevity, that there might be less room for anything objectionable mingling with that quietness of spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. On the day before his death he partook of the Lord’s Supper with twelve of his nearest relatives, his children, grandchildren, and sons-in-law. When all were assembled, Bengel, who at other times could scarcely speak, to the surprise of all, poured forth such a full confession of his faith, accompanied with expressions of Humi- liation and prayer, as occupied half an hour ; and all present were deeply moved, and repeated a fervent Amen at the close. Then the hymn was sung which begins, “ O Jesu Christ, my purest light,” etc. (Wiirtemb. Church Hymn B. No. 161.) He then became silent again as before, except that he remarked, “We have not earned a stock of grace, but it is given out for our use as we want it. As for those who think they earn it, God is able to make them often feel very empty ; and He means them no harm by it.” At the point of his departure, these words were pronounced over him, u Lord Jesus, to Thee I live ; to Thee I suffer ; to Thee I die : Thine I am, in death and in life ; save and bless me O Saviour, for ever and ever. Amen.” Upon hearing the words, Thine I am , he laid his right hand upon his heart, to signify his full assent ; and so fell asleep in Jesus on Thursday, the 2d of November 1752.
CEtinger remarks, “ Bengel did not wish to die in spiritual parade, but in the ordinary way ; like a person called out to the street door from the midst of business : so much so, that he was occupied with the correction of his proof-sheets at his dying season, as at other times. What he said of himself was, 4 that he should for a while be forgotten, but afterwards come into remembrance.’ ” The funeral sermon was preached by Tafinger, from Heb. vii. 24, 25, 44 This man , because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priest- hood : Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” This text was selected because Bengel on his death-bed had said, 44 The ground I feel under me is this, that by the power of the Holy Ghost, I confide in Jesus as an everlasting High Priest, in Whom I have all and abound.”
For further particulars of Bengel’s life and writings, the compiler of this Sketch refers the reader to the full and interesting 44 Memoir” by the Rev. J. C. F. Burk, translated from the German by R. F. Walker. London: W. Ball, 1837. See also for autobiographical notices given by his son Ernest, the Ed. of Steudel, 1835.