Thread: Toplady

Few Hymns or Christian poems have the theological sharpness and soundness of the ones written by Augustus Montague Toplady 1740-1778.
To read and meditate on these poems enlightens the mind and warms the heart, because they soak in Bible Truth and gaze upon God’s Majesty and Sovereignty.
So every now and then I will post on this thread several poems by this Gentleman.


Fountain of never ceasing grace


Fountain of never ceasing grace,
Thy saints’ exhaustless theme,
Great object of immortal praise,
Essentially supreme;
We bless Thee for the glorious fruits
Thine incarnation gives;
The righteousness which grace imputes,
And faith alone receives.

Whom heaven’s angelic host adores,
Was slaughtered for our sin;
The guilt, O Lord was wholly ours,
The punishment was Thine:
Our God in the flesh, to set us free,
Was manifested here;
And meekly bare our sins, that we
His righteousness might wear.

Imputatively guilty then
Our substitute was made,
That we the blessings might obtain
For which His blood was shed:
Himself He offered on the cross,
Our sorrows to remove;
And all He suffered was for us,
And all He did was love.

In Him we have a righteousness,
By God Himself approved;
Our rock, our sure foundation this,
Which never can be moved.
Our ransom by His death He paid,
For all His people given,
The law He perfectly obeyed,
That they might enter Heaven.

As all, when Adam sinned alone,
In his transgression died,
So by the righteousness of One,
Are sinners justified,
We to Thy merit, gracious Lord,
With humblest joy submit,
Again to Paradise restored,
In Thee alone complete.

Our souls His watchful love retrieves,
Nor lets them go astray,
His righteousness to us He gives,
And takes our sins away:
We claim salvation in His right,
Adopted and forgiven,
His merit is our robe of light,
His death the gate of Heaven.

Thanks for posting this.

Great stuff.

You always have god things !

I Likes Toplady

Toplady Resource Site

The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady

Contains sermons, essays, lectures and letters: $36

A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing;
No fear to draw near to Thy throne, my person and offerings to bring.

The wrath of a sin hating God with me can have nothing to do;
My Savior’s obedience to blood hide all my transgressions from view.

The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yes and Amen, and never was yet forfeited

Things future or things that are now, nor things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forgo, or sever my soul from His love.

My name from the palms of His hands eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace.

Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the earnest is given;
More happy, but not more secure, when glorified with Thee in heaven.


______________________


Refining Fuller, make me clean,
On me thy costly pearl bestow:
Thou art thyself the pearl I prize,
The only joy I seek below.

Disperse the clouds that damp my soul
And make my heart to rest on thee:
Cast me not off, but seal me now
Thine own peculiar property.

Look on the wounds of Christ for me,
My sentence graciously reprieve:
Extend thy peaceful sceptre, Lord,
And bid the dying traitor live.

Though I've transgressed the rules prescribed
And dared the justice I adore,
Yet let thy smiling mercy say,
Depart in peace, and sin no more.

____________________


Pilot of the soul, awake,
Save us for thy mercies' sake;
Now rebuke the angry deep,
Save, O save thy sinking ship!

Stand at the helm, our vessel steer,
Mighty on our side appear
Saviour, teach us to descry
Where the rocks and quick sands lie.

The waves shall impotently roll,
If thou art the anchor of the soul:
At thy word the wind shall cease,
Storms be hushed to perfect peace.

Be thou our haven of retreat,
A rock to fix our wavering feet,
Teach us to own thy sovereign sway,
Whom the winds and seas obey.


Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778)

thanks for sharing this. One of the beautiful reasons to read this board often.

while My Glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the Rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by. Exodus 33:22 KJV

For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4 ESV



Rock of Ages


Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
That from Thy wounded side flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

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.

Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar through tracts unknown,
See Thee on thy judgement throne;
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.






Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778)

-----Added 2/2/2009 at 02:59:59 EST-----



From whence this fear and unbelief?


From whence this fear and unbelief?
Hath not the Father put to grief
His spotless Son for me?
And will the righteous Judge of men
Condemn me for that debt of sin
Which, Lord, was charged on Thee?

Complete atonement Thou hast made,
And to the utmost farthing paid
What ever Thy people owed;
How then can wrath on me take place
If sheltered in Thy righteousness,
And sprinkled with Thy blood?


If Thou hast my discharge procured,
And freely in my room endured
The whole of wrath divine,
Payment God cannot twice demand
First at my bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine.

Turn then, my soul, unto thy rest!
The merits of thy great High Priest
Have bought thy liberty;
Trust in his efficacious blood,
Nor fear thy banishment from God,
Since Jesus died for thee.



-----Added 2/3/2009 at 06:13:51 EST-----

Grace, it is a charming sound


Grace, it is a charming sound,
Harmonious to mine ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Grace first contrived the way
To save rebellious man;
And all the steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan.

Grace first inscribed my name
In God’s eternal book;
It was grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.

Grace led my roving feet
To tread the heavenly road;
And new supplies each hour I meet,
While pressing on to God.

Grace taught my soul to pray
And made mine eyes overflow;
It was grace which kept me to this day,
And will not let me go.

Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting days;
It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.

O let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine
My all my powers to Thee aspire,
And all my days be Thine.


-----Added 2/3/2009 at 03:26:57 EST-----

How vast the benefits divine which we in Christ possess!
We are redeemed from guilt and shame and called to holiness.
But not for works which we have done, or shall hereafter do,
Hath God decreed on sinful men salvation to bestow.

The glory, Lord, from first to last, is due to Thee alone;
Aught to ourselves we dare not take, or rob Thee of Thy crown.
Our glorious Surety undertook to satisfy for man,
And grace was given us in Him before the world began.

This is Thy will, that in Thy love we ever should abide;
That earth and hell should not prevail to turn Thy Word aside.
Not one of all the chosen race but shall to Heaven attain,
Partake on earth the purposed grace and then with Jesus reign.


Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778)

Thanks!!

"A debtor to mercy alone" is one of my all time favorite hymns.

What though I cannot break my chain

What though I cannot break my chain
Or ever throw off my load,
The things impossible to men
Are possible to God.

Who, who shall in Thy presence stand,
Or match Omnipotence;
Unfold the grasp of Thy right hand
And pluck the sinner thence?

Faith to be healed I fain would have,
O might it now be given;
Thou canst, thou canst the sinner save,
And make me meet for Heaven.

Bound down with twice ten thousand ties,
Yet let me hear Thy call;
My soul in confidence shall rise,
Shall rise and break through all.

Thou canst overcome this heart of mine,
Thou wilt victorious prove;
For everlasting strength is Thine,
And everlasting Love.



-----Added 2/4/2009 at 08:59:37 EST-----

Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness


Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness;
Pierce the clouds of nature’s night;
Come, great Source of joy and gladness,
Breathe Your life, and spread Your light.
From the height which knows no measure,
As a gracious rain descend,
Bringing down the richest treasure
Man can wish, or God can send.

Author of the new creation,
Come with blessing and with power.
Make our hearts Your habitation;
On our souls Your graces shower.
Hear, O hear our supplication,
Blessed Spirit, God of peace!
Rest upon this congregation,
With the fullness of Your Grace.


Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778)

-----Added 2/4/2009 at 02:21:55 EST-----

O Thou, that hear the prayer of faith

O Thou, that hear the prayer of faith,
Wilt Thou not save a soul from death,
That casts itself on Thee?
I have no refuge of my own,
But fly to what my Lord has done,
As He suffered once for me.

Slain in the guilty sinner’s stead,
His spotless righteousness I plead,
And His atoning blood:
Thy righteousness my robe shall be,
Thy merit shall avail for me,
And bring me near to God.

Then snatch me from eternal death,
The Spirit of adoption breathe,
His consolation send:
By Him the Word of Life impart,
And sweetly whisper to my heart,
“Thy Maker is thy Friend.”

My final breath then would be
A welcome messenger to me,
To bid me come away:
Unclogged by earth, or earthly things,
I’d mount, I’d fly with eager wings,
To the Everlasting Day.


-----Added 2/5/2009 at 07:06:52 EST-----

Your harps, ye trembling saints

Your harps, ye trembling saints,
Down from the willows take;
Loud to the praise of love divine
Bid every string awake.

Though in a foreign land
We are not far from home,
And nearer to our house above
We every moment come.

His Grace will to the end
Stronger and brighter shine;
Nor present things nor things to come
Shall quench the Spark Divine.

When we in darkness walk,
Nor feel the Heavenly Flame,
Then is the time to trust our God,
And rest upon His Name.

Soon shall our doubts and fears
Subside at His control;
His loving kindness shall break through
The midnight of the soul.

Blest is the man, O Lord!
That stays himself on Thee;
Who wait for Thy salvation, Lord!
Shall Thy salvation see.


-----Added 2/6/2009 at 11:06:59 EST-----

Jesus, by Whose Grace I live

Jesus, by Whose Grace I live
From the fear of evil kept
Thou hast lengthened my reprieve,
Held in being while I slept;
With the day my heart renew
Let me wake, Thy will to do.


Since the last revolving dawn
Scattered the nocturnal cloud,
O how many souls have gone,
Unprepared, to meet their God !
Yet thou dost prolong my breath,
Hast not sealed my eyes in death.

O that I may keep Thy Word,
Taught by Thee to watch and pray !
To Thy service, dearest Lord,
Sanctify the ensuing day
Swift its fleeting moments haste;
Doomed, perhaps, to be my last.

Crucified to all below,
Earth shall never be my care;
Wealth and honour I forego;
This my only wish and care
Thine in life and death to be,
Now and to Eternity.


Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778)