I’m embarking on a new project today, one that I hope I will see through to completion. In my library I have a number of hymnals, some more current than others, as well as a handful of books with the hymns of specific hymnwriters, but none for one of my favorite writers, Augustus Toplady. I have one volume, which is “The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady” which includes these hymns, but it is not a handy volume for looking up specific texts, as it includes all of his recorded conversations – letters, notes, everything he did. Hence the name.
So my new task is to work through this volume of over 900 pages and pick out the hymn texts and publish them here. Toplady, while not as prolific as some hymnwriters such as Isaac Watts or Fanny Crosby, has, at my count, 121 of his poems recorded in this volume, most of which according to his chronicler, he wrote between 15 and 18.
Our author early made it appear, that he was not afraid of literary labour; the valuable years of his youth were devoted to useful and honourable studies, rather than to frivolous occupations, such as too often engross the minds of young men at his age. He laid a solid basis for future years, and the superstructure was beautiful. Between the age of fifteen and eighteen, by way of relaxation from his studies, he employed himself in writing little poetic pieces, which were printed in a 12mo. volume, at Dublin, in the year 1759. They are by no means deficient in spirit and force ; some of the verses are truly poetical, and many of the thoughts new. Amidst the small inaccuracies of these juvenile compositions, there are indubitable marks of genius. The youth and inexperience of the writer must be looked upon as an extenuation, so as to preclude every idea of criticism. The ardour of piety and religion, which irradiated the morning of his life, increased with lustre in his maturer years.
The Works of Augustus Toplady, B.A.
Many of his hymns remain popular today, including “Rock of Ages” and “A Debtor to Mercy Alone.” I hope you enjoy reading his poems and hymn texts as I post them. If you like old hymn texts, let me recommend a few good books. (Remember, if you follow a link to purchase a book or other item through amazon.com there is a possibility I, as an amazon affiliate, may get a small commission from that purchase. It does not affect your cost in any way, but Amazon requires that I tell you that. Please consider yourself told.)
Gadsby’s Hymns https://amzn.to/3prXuoV
Our Own Hymn-Book (C H Spurgeon) https://amzn.to/3htaO8a
Heaven Will Bring Me Sweeter Rest: Selected Works of Henry Francis Lyte https://amzn.to/36F2hg0
Our Song of Songs: Sacred Writings of James Montgomery https://amzn.to/3ppTHbC
Refuge of My Weary Soul: Selected Works of Anne Steele https://amzn.to/3C2or7F
John Newton’s Olney Hymns https://amzn.to/3ppj6SW
William Cowper’s Olney Hymns https://amzn.to/3vnnEgl
The Hymns of Philip Doddridge https://amzn.to/3MmDpdB
If you have other collections you think I might enjoy, let me know in the comments (which are moderated).