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 a double cure,
save from wrath and make me pure.
UMC Hymnal, No. 361
Augustus Toplady was born in England in 1740. His father was a Royal Marine and died on duty soon after his son’s birth, leaving the boy to be raised by his mother. Toplady was very interested in religion during his early years, but it was not until he was 15 that he felt a call to the gospel ministry.
There is a legend that Toplady wrote this hymn while taking
refuge in the cleft of a rock during the midst of a fierce storm. There is even a plaque in the Burrington
Combe gorge in Somerset, claiming that it is the actual rock cleft in
question. Many scholars believe that the hymn was
written by Augustus (a staunch Calvinist) in response to John Wesley (Arminian
theology) – two good men, but bitter theological foes.
Rock of Ages – Chris Rice
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