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one hitherto has censured, if they shall be censured, will be-in readi ness for me to make, or will suggest itself to my readers, if I am silent or dead.
Now, by the goodness of God, I have finished, in my declining years, not only the criticism, but the exegesis also, of the Apocalypse and the whole of the New Testament, which was undertaken in my youth. My courteous readers will discover a text conformed to the
every one to be questioned in these words : “Was in dieser Erklarung enthalten ist, und aus derselben durch eine rechtmassige Folge fleusst, das gilt : hingegen wolle sich niemand bereden lassen, dass ich irgendwo etwas, das doch mit dieser Erklarung keine Yerwandtschaft hat, ausgesagt und veranlasset liatte,” etc. But if any one is anxious to know the rest of the more recent interpreters who adopt altogether different opinions, he must notice J. C. Harenberg , in the Erklarten OfFenbarung Johannis, Braunschw. 1759: an anonymous writer in the Apoca- lypse revealed, in which are brought to light secret things which are there fore- told, and have hitherto been concealed, Amst. 1766 (concerning which comp, my Beleuchtung, etc., § 16, p. 70, etc.) : Ph. F. Hane, in his Entwurf der Kirchengeschichte N. T. wie solche in den erfullten Weissagungen der gottlichen OfFenb. Joh. enthalten sind, etc., Leipz. 1768, 1769, 1772: J. S. Semler , in the freyen Untersuchung liber die sogenannte OfFenbarung Johannis , aus der Hand - schrift eines Frdnkischen Gelehrten (D. Oeders ) herausgegeben, mit eignen An- merJcungen , Halle, 1769 ( — which book, though it does not contain a continuous exegesis, but rather a spirited rejection of the Apocalypse, was not, however, to be concealed by me here) : Jac. Brucker, in his Anmerkungen zum Englis- chen Bibelwerk, XIX. Th., oder des N. T. VIII. B. Leipz. 1770 : an anonymous writer , s. t. die OfFenbarung des lieil. Johannis, erlautert, I. and II. Abschn. Halle, 1769, 1772 : but especially Ernesti, in his neuen und neuesten Theol. Bibl. 1760-72, and Michaelis, in his Einleitung in die gottliche Schriften des N. B., 1766, everywhere show themselves keen censors of Bengel , as far as it respects their suffrages on the Apocalypse, although they rather confine them- selves to general judgments, than descend to the stronghold of the cause by ar- guments betraying mature investigation. And here, indeed, we may repeat, by way of conclusion, the words of Hellwage (Pref. to new Ed. Ord. Temp. § XI.) : “Let those who are alarmed at the present commotions, review and more closely examine what (Bengel) has said or written. Let those who can, profit by the kind favour of Bengel, in knowing and bearing witness to the truth which he taught ; and, by the gift of God, let them surpass Bengel, who would wish that very thing, and congratulate us :” (comp, altogether die Erkl. OfFenb. on ch. xvii. 9,) — £ 'ihoTig, or/ o xoVoj vp.uv oi/x ’ion xtvo; tv Kt iplqt.