"Rock of Ages, cleft for me" by Augustus Montague Toplady. Gadsby Hymn 143. Tune 'Norwood'.

Between 1762 and 1764, Augustus Toplady served as curate at the village of Blagdon in Somerset, not far from Burrington Combe. According to a long-standing tradition, he was walking through the gorge when he was overtaken by a violent thunderstorm. Seeking protection, he took shelter in a cleft in the rock beside the road. The sudden discovery of this refuge at the moment of need made a deep impression on him, and he later used the image as an illustration of divine providence, an idea that found expression in the opening line of this famous hymn, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me.” _______________ This tune is commonly used in North America:    • Gadsby Hymn 143.  Author A. M. Toplady. Tu...   _______________ Texts on the Rock: He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4) There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2) For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? (2 Samuel 22:32) I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:1–2) For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? (Psalm 18:31) For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. (Psalm 31:3) He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:2) He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. (Psalm 62:6) In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (Psalm 62:7) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. (Matthew 7:24) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) _______________ Quotes from Augustus Montague Toplady: “Faith, repentance, and holiness are no less the free gifts of God than eternal life.” “A man’s free will cannot cure him even of the toothache, or a sore finger; and yet he madly thinks it is in its power to cure his soul.” “The greatest judgment which God Himself can, in the present life, inflict upon a man, is to leave him in the hand of his own boasted free will.” “Grace finds us beggars—but leaves us debtors.” “When Christ entered into Jerusalem—the people spread garments in the way. When He enters into our hearts, we pull off our own righteousness, and not only lay it under Christ’s feet but even trample upon it ourselves.” “Grace alone makes the elect gracious; grace alone keeps them gracious; and the same grace alone will render them everlastingly glorious in the heaven of heavens.” “Every religion except one puts upon you doing something in order to recommend yourself to God… but was given to us in Christ before the world began.” “Forbid that I should rest short of that repentance which is Thy gift, and is connected with life eternal; and forbid, O forbid, that I should sit down without aspiring to that conformity unto Thee in righteousness and true holiness…” “I can compare some ranting Arminian preachers, who represent salvation as a matter of chance, and press men to help forward their own conversion, upon pain of damnation, to none so well as to auctioneers; who, with the hammer in their hands, are always bawling out, "Now is your time; now is your time: a-going, a-going, a-going." Such a method is equally inconsistent with the analogy of faith, and subversive of the majesty of the gospel. Shall I order a dead soul to awake, and raise itself to life? Let me rather address the living God, and say, "Awake, and put on thy strength, O arm of the Lord! Breathe on these slain, that they may live!"” _______________ Gadsby Hymn 143: 1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in thee; Let the water and the blood, From thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power. 2 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. 3 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. 4 While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eye-strings break in death, When I soar through tracts unknown, See thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in thee.