Augustus Toplady
Augustus Toplady is best known today as the writer of the
hymn “Rock of Ages.” He was born in 1740
in Farnham, England. His father was a
Major in the Royal Marines and died in wartime service when his only son was
still an infant. Augustus’ widowed mother
enrolled him in a private school and later moved to Ireland.
An intelligent and energetic boy, he preached sermons at
the age of 12, began writing hymns at age 14, and listened to a Wesleyan sermon
at age 16, solidifying his call to Christ’s service.
Despite his foundation in the Arminian theology of
Wesleyanism, Augustus switched his allegiance to Calvinism and exchanged a
number of fiery letters, both public and private, with John Wesley arguing the
point. Wesley eventually wrote him off,
declaring him intractable. Toplady
wrote, “Wesley is guilty of satanic shamelessness, of acting the ignoble part
of a lurking, shy assassin.”
Despite his rancor toward Wesley’s theology, Augustus had
a fruitful ministry. He was known to
pray, “God, keep me from being a mere scholar.”
His true love, however, seemed to be writing hymns. He died of tuberculosis at the young age of 37,
but in his day had published over 800 hymns in numerous hymnals. “Rock of Ages” is rumored to have been inspired
by his seeking shelter under a rock overhang during a particularly violent
storm in 1776, about 2 years before he died.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in thee.
Let the water and the blood; From thy wounded side which
flowed;
Be of sin the double cure. Save from wrath and make me pure
Could my tears forever flow? Could my zeal no languor know?
These for sin could not atone; Thou must save and thou
alone.
In my hand no price I bring. Simply to the cross I cling.
While I draw this fleeting breath. When my eyes shall close in death.
When I rise to worlds unknown; And behold thee on thy throne.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in thee!
Unknowingly to him, Toplady's most famous hymn is amazingly similar to words in a hymnal preface published
by John Wesley nearly 30 years before, “O Rock of Salvation, Rock struck and
cleft for me, let those two streams of blood and water which gushed from thy
side, bring down pardon and holiness into my soul.”
Then Sings My Soul, Morgan, Robert J., Nelson Publishers,
2003.
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