Rev. Augustus Toplady: "Justification by Faith Alone"

Someone asked about “Reformed Anglicans” on a couple of views.  As a “Post-Anglican,” whatever that means, that does not entail “throwing the baby out with the wash.”  It does mean draining the dirty tub from time to time.  So glad to be retired, not need an income from anyone, and with no need to report or answer to anybody.  Also, our lovely TEC Rector doesn’t mind much about theology;  we live in quietness.  

So, indulge my confusions and tensions graciously.  I confess to having confusions.  I have an old BCP and hold to the Westminster Standards. But, back to the questioner from yesterday, a “Reformed Anglican.” Here's an example from better years.   

I came across—today—another wonderful hymn by the Rev. or Mr. Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778), a Church of England man, a stern antagonist to the “Arminian and High Anglican,” the Rev. or Mr. John Wesley.  While at Oxford, John was known as a “high  Anglican” (what we call doctrinally and abysmally “low”).  Some have ascribed that to old John. So high, in fact, that he was “methodical.” Things might have been different, if the Church of England had been more sober, more reflective, and more scholarly, but no, they ditched the Westminster Standards in their extremism and enthusiasm in 1662. But I digress.

Of all things, the “Anglican hymn” by Toplady is found in the “Presbyterian hymnal.”  Never mind the 1982 TEC hymnal: it’s gone. Poof!  Too much!  And never mind asking Bob of Pittsburgh about it!  Or, Jack Iker either.  

A minor annoyance with the Presbyterians is that they “filed” the hymn under “adoption,” a category not to be seen in the Anglican hymnal or heard amongst them.  The hymn should have been filed under “justification by faith alone.”  It’s a classic, in my estimation.

Here is old Augustus’s hymn; it’s sung to the tune of St. Matthew, C.M.D.; of course, it is a “liturgical hymn;” that is, the Presbyterians are often mis-caricatured as having “no liturgy.”  Or, impugning these statesman as producing only a “spectator religion” with an “auditorium” only.  Such people fail to see the “Amen” at the end of the hymn  and fail to see that the 1982 TEC lacks—entirely—“Amens” at the end of the hymns; in other words, these hymns are liturgical for those inclined to lack of insight. 

I’m not sure old Toplady can be improved. 
 

Here’s old Toplady. 

1.  Fountain of never-ceasing grace,

Thy saints’ exhausting theme,

Great Object of immortal praises,

Essentially supreme,

We bless Thee for the glorious fruits,

Thine incarnation gives,

The righteousness which grace imputes,

And by faith alone receives.

 

2.  In thee we have a righteousness,

By God Himself approved,

Our Rock, our Sure Foundation this,

Which never can be moved.

Our ransom by Thy people giv’n,

The law Thou perfectly obeyed,

That they might enter heav’n.

 

3.  As all, when Adam sinned alone,

In his transgression died,

So by the righteousness of One,

Are sinners justified,

We to Thy merit, gracious Lord,

With humblest joy submit,

Again to Paradise restored,

In Thee alone complete. Amen.

We would also recommend reading Rev. or Mr. Toplady’s “Historic Proof of Doctrinal Calvinism in the Church of England.”  However, institutionally, the Church of England must be abandoned—keeping the baby, a Reformed Prayer Book with a Reformed Confession, but ditching the dirt and draining the dirty water.  They’ll never recover barring divine intervention.  Here’s the URL if desired. Cheers!


FWIW.  

http://books.google.com/books?id=vHhOAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=augustus+toplady+calvinism+church+of+england&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ofXdUc8F8cjgA5yWgJAE&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA