EBEL, 5'bel, JOHANN WIZHELM: German preacher; b. at Passenheim (75 m. s.s.e. of Königsberg), East Prussia, Mar. 4, 1784; d. at Hoheneck, near Ludvpigsburg (9 m. n. of Stuttgart), Württemberg, Aug.18,1861. After his graduation at Königsberg, he became acquainted with Johann Heinrich Schönherr (q.v.), and espoused his views of relative dualism. His pronounced evangelical views, and eloquent advocacy of practical Christianity, were distasteful to the rationalistic and dead orthodox clergy of the province, who tried, from the beginning of his ministerial career at Hermadorf (1807-09), to awe him into submission, and, upon his removal to Königsberg as preacher and teacher (1810), resented his growing popularity by charging him with heresy. The charge, however, was dismissed as unfounded, while Ebel was chosen preacher of the Old Town Church at Königsberg, the largest in the city, in 1816, and filled that high position until his deprivation in 1842.

1n 1826 a ministerial reacript, directed against mysticism, Pietism, and separatism, was eagerly seized by Schiin, the provincial governor, an un christian and unprincipled man, and other oppo nents of Ebel and Heinrich Diestel, his brother minister and friend, as an opportunity for the trumped-up charge of having founded a sect which held secret meetings and advocated tenets of peril ous and immoral tendency. The coneistory decided the cane against the accused, and, in 1835, arbi trarily and illegally suspended them ab officio. On appeal the action of the conaistory was canceled, but Ebel, though acquitted of the charge of having founded a sect, was not reinstated, on the alleged ground of neglect of duty. The prosecution, originating in theological hatred, took place at a time when the judicial process is Prussia was still private. To-day it would be impossible to bring such a case to the cognizance of a jury. After his deprivation, Ebel lived at Griinefeld (1842-48), at Meran in the Tyrol (1,848-50), and at Hoheneck (1850-fi1).

(J. I. Mombert.)

Bibliography: The moat important of the works of Ebel are: Die Weiehtit von Oben, Königsberg, 1823; Oedtihliche Ertielsung, Hamburg, 1825; Die apostotische Predipt id zt%tgemdat, Hamburg, 1835; Die Treat. Königsberg, 1835; Veratand and Vernunft (in company with G. H. Diestel), Leipsic, 1837; ZtugnitaderWahrheit (by the same), ib. 1838; Orundziige der Erkenntnitt der Wahrheit, ib. 1852; Die PhiloeopAie der he6lipen Urkundt des Chraaknthume, Stuttgart, 1854-58. For his life consult: J. I. Mombert, Faith Victorious, being an Account of the Life and Labours and of the Times of J. Ebel, London, 1882; H. wagener, Ueber J. W. Ebel, Ludwigsburg, 1881. Consult also: E. Hahnenfeld, Die religiose Btwepung zu Königsberg, Braunsberg, 1868; E. Ksnita, Aupkldrung nach AclenqutZttn über den FC6nipaberger (1886-l,,8), Rtlipionaproaeu, Basel, 1882; Bibliotheea Sacra, vol. avi., 1889.