Rock of Ages Hymn Notes

"Rock of Ages" has been ranked as one of the most popular and best-known hymns in the English language ever written, often described as a "hymn that meets the spiritual needs of all sorts and conditions of men."

Most hymns have been written out of some deep personal spiritual experience, but this hymn was born in a spirit of intense controversy. The hymn writer Augustus Toplady was converted to Christ as a 16 year old young boy while visiting Ireland.

The Hymn "Rock of Ages"

Toplady was attracted to the ministry of the Methodist brothers Charles and John Wesley. As time went by, he became a strong follower of John Calvin of the "election" doctrines. Toplady opposed the Arminian views of sanctification promoted by the Wesleys that it is possible for any believer to live without consciously sinning, that is, experience a state of moral perfection described in Hebrews 4:9. Theological warfares were carried on by the Wesleys and Todlady through public debates, sermons and printed materials.

In 1776 Toplady published this hymn text in The Gospel Magazine as a climax to an article attempting to prove his argument that man, in his own efforts could never satisfy the eternal justice of a holy God. He entitled the hymn "A Living and Dying Prayer for the Holiest Believer in the World." Toplady's rebuttal is found in the second stanza of the hymn:

"Could my fears forever flow, could my zeal no languor know,

These for sin could not atone – Thou must save, and Thou alone."

It's interesting that a noted hymnologist, Dr. Louis J. Benson, in Studies of Familiar Hymns, calls attention that Toplady actually plagiarized his text from a hymn that Charles Wesley wrote 30 years earlier in a collection, Hymns on the Lord's Supper.

The Hymn Writer Augustus Toplady

Augustus Montague Toplady was born on November 4, 1740, in Franham, England, the son of Major Richard Toplady, who died in the service while Augustus was an infant. Toplady graduated from Trinity College in Dublin, and ordained in 1762 as an Anglican minister. A powerful evangelical preacher, his other pastorates included the French Calvinist Chapel at Leicester Fields, London. In 1778, Toplady died of overwork and from tuberculosis at the age of 38.

The Composer Thomas Hastings

The tune for this hymn was composed in 1830 by American church musician Thomas Hastings (1784-1872), born in Washington, Connecticut. He was the first musician of sacred music to dedicate his life to raising the standard of the American music of the churches. Afflicted with eye problems being an albino, he wrote 50 volumes of church music including 1000 hymn tunes, and numerous original hymn texts. In 1858, he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Music by the University of New York City. Along with Lowell Mason, Hastings is credited with being the most instrumental in the American sacred music development.

Final Words on the Hymn

Despite the original disagreements behind the text, the Lord has preserved "Rock of Ages" with blessing, as it remains to be one of the traditional favourites in Protestant churches, independent of denominations.

Rock of Ages

(Words: Toplady, 1763, Music: Hastings, 1830)

1. "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.

2. Could my zeal no languor know, Could my tears forever flow,

These for sin could not atone - Thou must save, and Thou alone:

In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling.

3. 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."

Lyrics and Music

Cyber Hymnal

Source:

101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, Michigan, 1982

Holy Bible, New International Version, Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 2001

Rock of Ages

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