Rock of Ages
Text: Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778
Music: Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872
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,
Cleanse me from it's guilt and power
Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee
This video below is the closest I got to the version we have. They change the last line of the first verse just a bit.
Text: Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778
Music: Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872
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,
Cleanse me from it's guilt and power
Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee
This video below is the closest I got to the version we have. They change the last line of the first verse just a bit.
Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778
Born in 1740 with a Marine father who died early in his life so he was raised by his mother.
Converted into a Methodist church, he read the 39 Articles of the Church of England and become a member of the Church of England.
Staunch Calvinist, fiercely and sometimes in a less than positive manner, defending this doctrine including the doctrine of election. Had an ongoing feud with John Wesley.
Died at a young age (38) from tuberculois or frail health.
"Toplady had calculated that a fifty year old man in his lifetime would be guilty of; one billion, five hundred and seventy-six million, eight hundred thousand sins. He quite rightly argued that it was humanly impossible for anyone to pay off such a staggering debt of iniquity. Therefore, sinners must needs avail themselves of the mercy and pardon of the Lord Jesus, who died upon the Cross to 'redeem us from the curse of the law.'" (online hymnal)
Rock of Ages, why written.
Popular story is that it was written one while Toplady was sheltering from a storm while inside a cave. This may or may not be true. He may have been inspired by other hymns of the day.
Scripture:
Psalms 18.2:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Sources:
EnsignMessage. The Telegraph. OnLine Hymnal. Challies. Biblical Resouce Database. Discipleship Ministries.
Born in 1740 with a Marine father who died early in his life so he was raised by his mother.
Converted into a Methodist church, he read the 39 Articles of the Church of England and become a member of the Church of England.
Staunch Calvinist, fiercely and sometimes in a less than positive manner, defending this doctrine including the doctrine of election. Had an ongoing feud with John Wesley.
Died at a young age (38) from tuberculois or frail health.
"Toplady had calculated that a fifty year old man in his lifetime would be guilty of; one billion, five hundred and seventy-six million, eight hundred thousand sins. He quite rightly argued that it was humanly impossible for anyone to pay off such a staggering debt of iniquity. Therefore, sinners must needs avail themselves of the mercy and pardon of the Lord Jesus, who died upon the Cross to 'redeem us from the curse of the law.'" (online hymnal)
Rock of Ages, why written.
Popular story is that it was written one while Toplady was sheltering from a storm while inside a cave. This may or may not be true. He may have been inspired by other hymns of the day.
Scripture:
Psalms 18.2:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Sources:
EnsignMessage. The Telegraph. OnLine Hymnal. Challies. Biblical Resouce Database. Discipleship Ministries.
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