Rock of Ages
Author: Augustus M. Toplady (1776)·Music: Thomas Hastings·Scripture: Exodus 33:22·Topic: Forgiveness
Meaning & History
Tradition says Toplady wrote these lines while sheltering in a cleft of rock during a storm. The hymn confesses that nothing in our hands can save us — only the cleft side of Christ, opened at Calvary.
Tonic Sol-fa — Stanza 1
Movable-do sol-fa auto-derived from the public-domain melody in Bb. A rehearsal aid — check it against the score before printing.
Lyrics
Verse 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, Save me from its guilt and power.
Verse 2
Not the labours of my hands Can fulfil Thy law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone — Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Verse 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.