Editing Johann Salomo Semler (section)

===Contemporary perception===
Even the [[Prussia]]n government, which favoured Bahrdt, made known its displeasure at this new but quite consistent aspect of his position. But, though Semler was not inconsistent with himself in attacking the views of Reimarus and Bahrdt, his popularity began to decline, and towards the end of his life he felt a need to emphasize the apologetic and conservative value of true historical inquiry. His defence of the notorious edict of July 9, 1788, issued by the Prussian minister for ecclesiastical affairs, [[Johann Christoph von Wöllner]], the object of which was to enforce [[Lutheran orthodoxy]], might be cited as a sign of the decline of his powers and of an unfaithfulness to his principles. He died at [[Halle (Saale)|Halle]], [[Duchy of Magdeburg|Magdeburg]], exhausted and disappointed.