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on the ground of the infant state of biblical criticism in Germany . His countrymen , and especially Baumgarten , a bigoted defender of the integrity of the received text , applauded
hyn to the skies ; Sernler was not deceived by their flattery , but lived to make an ample atonement to the manes of Whiston , by defending his opinions on much better grounds than Whiston himself had alleged in their
support . On leaving the University in 17 * 49 , he settled at Coburg , where he undertook the editorship of a newspaper , and excited so much attention by the spirited manner in which he conducted
it , that he was appointed to draw up a memorial respecting the disputes between the Duke of Wirtemberg and his vassals before the Diet at Ratisbon . The chief benefit which he derived from his year ' s residence at Coburg was ,, that he became acquainted with his future wife , a woman of great firmness of mind and calmness of
temper , endowed with that sound judgment upon matters of real life , and that spirit of order and economy , to which Semler was an utter stranger . Accompanied by her , he removed in 1751 to Altdorff , as Professor of History and Poetry , and spent there one
year , which seems to have passed in the purest domestic happiness , in the pursuit of the studies in which he most delighted , and in harmony with his colleagues , to whom he was not yet become an object of jealousy . His removal to Halle in 1752 , as Professor
of Theology , made him acquainted with a different state of things . He was here placed , it is true , by the side of lus friend and patron , Baumgarten , who lived till 1757 ; but all the rest of the theological faculty was decidedly hostile to him , and embittered his life
by intrigues and cabals , which might have operated still more unfavourably upon his peace , but for the prudence of his wife . Even Baurngarten ' s influence was unfavourable in some respects to the development of Semler ' s mind ; he was one of those who , having
departed a little from prevailing opinions , are as jealous of those who go further as if they themselves had been standards of orthodoxy ; he had early discovered a taint of heretical liberality in Semler ' s turn of thinking , and watched him as rigidfy as if it had been
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a spot of leprosy : so that during Baumgarten ' s life-time he was compelled to keep those juster vievv 3 to himself , which had opened upon him almost from the time when the duties of his professorship led him to make
theology his chief study . He was deficient too , in the first years of this period , in theological acquirements , which assiduous application was necessary to supply ; and , from the united influence of these causes , it was not
till about 1 / 60 , that he assumed that rank as a theologian which he continued to hold during 20 years . On Baumgarten ' s death , in 17 & 7 , he was made Director of the Theological Seminary , an institution existing in many of the Protestant Universities of
Germany , and designed to assist and guide the theological student in his preparation for the ministry , by placing him more under the immediate superintendence of his teacher , than the loose connexion between professors and students would otherwise allow . A short
time only was now necessary to acquire for Semler a degree of reputation which brought theological students from all parts to Halle . Every year he continued to publish works full of novel and interesting ideas : his
language and elocution , as a lecturer , were , like his writings , full of unpolished strength and irregular animation ; but from these very qualities , perhaps , he succeeded better in making his hearers think , and avvakenimr the his hearers thinkand awakening the
, love of truth and thirst for knowledge in their minds , than he could have done by a more finished style and delivery . Hence his auditory was always crowded with students , among whom he diffused a love of theological learning , and a spirit of fearless
investigation ot scripture and of Christian antiquities . The theological chairs in the principal Universities and other institutions of education in Germany were filled by his pupils , or by those who adopted his principles ; and as the spirit of the times co-operated with his endeavours , the diffusion of his
doctrines was wide and rapid . Among his pupils , it is only necessary to mention Griesbach , to prove how deeply we are indebted to him for those more correct opinions respecting the tea § t of the New Testament , which have placed the scriptural argument for the Unity of God upon an immoveable
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68 Biographical Sketch tof J . S . Semler .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1821, page 68, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2497/page/4/
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