by Pastor Clinton Macomber
"Rock of Ages" has been one of the most popular hymns. What makes this interesting is that it was written to poke fun at his former friend, Charles Wesley, and so uses phrases plagiarized from the hymn Charles wrote and published 30 years earlier! It was originally entitled, "A Living and Dying Prayer for the Holiest Believer in the World" to poke fun at sinless perfection. In spite of this, the hymn has been a favorite of both Calvinist and Arminian Christians for over 230 years.
The writer of the hymn is Augustus Montague Toplady. He was born in England on November 4, 1740.
He was saved while a boy of 16 while visiting Ireland. A small group of people in an obscure village was meeting in a barn. Among those that met, there was hardly anyone who could spell his own name. He found it odd that among all the highly educated and eloquent leaders in England, none of them had explained his own need of salvation.
Soon afterwards he was attracted to the ministry of the Wesleys and the Methodists. Later, he became acquainted with Calvin's teachings on the assurance of salvation and became vehemently opposed to the Wesley's Arminian teachings. He undertook public debates, pamphlet publishing, and in general theological warfare with the Wesleys. Much of his work has survived to this day and is still used in arguing theological positons.
In 1762 (at 22 years of age) he was ordained in the Anglican Church after having graduated from Trinity College in Ireland. He pastured several churches including the French Calvinist Chapel of London.
This hymn was written one day while traveling during a thunderstorm. He sought refuge among the rocks along the road (see photo, there is a person standing where he stood), and while waiting for the storm to pass, formulated these words. It is based on Isaiah 26:4. Later, while writing as editor of The Gospel Magazine, in 1776, about the national debt of England, he stated that just as England was incapable of paying off the debt, so we are incapable of satisfying God through our own merits. He inserted this poem in his article.
He died on August 11, 1778, when only 38 years old of overwork and tuberculosis. He was a highly respected for being a deeply spiritual and evangelistic leader. Shortly before passing, he said:
"My heart beats every day stronger and stronger for glory. Sickness is no affliction, pain no cause, death itself no dissolution…. My prayers are now all converted into praise."
Sources used:
Ken Curtis, Beth Jacobson, Diana Severance, Ann Snyder, & Dan Graves. "Song in the Storm." Glimpses (Worcester: PA: Christian Heritage Institute) Issue 61
K. W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990). Page 114.
K.W. Osbeck. 101 Hymn Stories. (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1982). Number 78. pages 23, 215-218.
Drawing from Shane Rosenthal, Reformation Ink "Thoughts on the Assurance of Faith." www.markers.com/ink
W.W. Wiersbe, Be Comforted. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1992). Isaiah 26:1.
