The Double Cure

Reflecting on Rock of Ages by Augustus Toplady

In 1776 an English pastor named Augustus Toplady wrote one of our most beloved hymns.

At the age of 16 in 1756, Toplady was visiting in Ireland and attended a worship service held in a barn. The preacher that day was an illiterate layman named Morris. The sermon was taken from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians,

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

—Ephesians 2:13

Toplady was converted and his life forever changed. He had this to say about his conversion,

Strange that I, who had so long sat under the means of grace in England, should be brought nigh unto God in an obscure part of Ireland, amidst a handful of God's people met together in a barn, and under the ministry of one who could hardly spell his name. Surely this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous.

Toplady became pastor of a Church of England congregation at the age of 28. He served that church until his death. As death approached in his 38th year, Toplady made this comment to his doctor,

Why, that is a good sign that my death is fast approaching; and, blessed be God, I can add that my heart beats stronger and stronger every day for glory.

Two years before his death, Toplady penned one of his many hymns. We still sing it and know it as Rock of Ages.

The first verse of this hymn includes one of the best lines from the standpoint of rich theology and Christian experience.

The entire verse goes like this,

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;
save from wrath and make me pure.

That final couplet is a wonderful expression of the effects of Christ’s death for sinners who trust in that Christ who died.

Be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

The benefit for the sinner who trusts in Christ’s blood is a double cure. The first part of the cure is that we are saved from wrath. What wrath? The wrath of the Father against sin and sinners. Jesus endured God’s wrath on the cross on our behalf.

But there is a second cure. The blood of Jesus makes us pure. God has declared us to be just or pure in his sight because of our bleeding Savior.

You can enjoy this YouTube music video of the hymn from the Norton Hall Band.