The Hiding Place of His Righteousness (Toplady)

 Here's a wonderful section of a letter Augustus Toplady wrote in 1767 to a friend who was very ill: I hope, sir, you are enabled to trust your soul to Christ, and to cast your care on God. Satan, no doubt, will be ever ready to bring in the indictment, and conscience cannot help pleading …

Arminianism and the Stage Coach Guard (Toplady)

Here's a helpful illustration on the perseverance of the saints by Augustus Toplady: Arminianism represents God’s Spirit, as if he acted like the guard of a stage-coach, who sees the passengers safe out of town for a few miles; and then, making his bow, turns back, and leaves them to pursue the rest of the …

Not For Works Which We Have Done (Toplady)

I always like reading the original words of the solid hymns we know and love.  As I was looking through Augustus Toplady's hymns in volume 6 of his Works I recently came across "How Vast the Benefits Divine."  Here are the original words, which are based on 2 Timothy 1:9 - He has saved us …

“One Grain of Arminianism” A. Toplady

I’ve recently been enjoying the writing of Augustus Toplady (d. 1778).  As you may know, Toplady wrote “Rock of Ages” and “A Debtor to Mercy Alone.”  He was a defender of the doctrines of grace and debated John Wesley’s Arminianism.  Here are a few sections from his sermon on Ps. 115:1 (Not to us, LORD, …

Hodge, Hymns, and Christ’s Satisfaction

In Charles Hodge’s discussion of Christ’s satisfaction he takes some time to refute the false teaching that Jesus’ life and death simply gave us a moral example.  Some have indeed taught that Jesus’ death was an example of love for us to follow, but not a substitutionary atonement.  In other words, some teach that Christ’s …