Observations and Reflections - Augustus M. Toplady
Observations and Reflections
Augustus M. Toplady (1740 - 1778)
These considerations by Mr. Toplady, and the extracts, are arranged under their respective heads. Diamonds never appear so splendid, as when set in a crown. However, when thrown in confusion, they are still jewels, and therefore worth the gathering. -- From these brilliants a bouquet is made up, for the gratification of the reader.
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John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Augustus Montague Toplady (4 November 1740 – 11 August 1778) was an Anglican cleric and hymn writer. He was a major Calvinist opponent of John Wesley. He is best remembered as the author of the hymn "Rock of Ages".
Augustus Toplady was born in Farnham, Surrey, England in November 1740. He attended Westminster School from 1750 to 1755.Trinity College, Dublin: 1755–60In 1759, Toplady published his first book, Poems on Sacred Subjects.Toplady met and was influenced by several prominent Calvinist ministers, including George Whitefield, and John Gill. It was John Gill who in 1760 urged Toplady to publish his translation of Zanchius's work on predestination.
Calvinist controversy: 1769–78Toplady's first salvo into the world of religious controversy came in 1769 when he wrote a book in response to a situation at the University of Oxford. Six students had been expelled from St Edmund Hall because of their Calvinist views, which Thomas Nowell criticised as inconsistent with the views of the Church of England. Toplady then criticised Nowell's position in his book The Church of England Vindicated from the Charge of Arminianism, which argued that Calvinism, not Arminianism, was the position historically held by the Church of England.1769 also saw Toplady publish his translation of Zanchius's Confession of the Christian
