A Short Sketch of the Life and Character of Augustus Toplady
31 R. Toplady* was second son to Richard Toplady, Esq. a major in the army. He was born at Farnham, in Surrey, on Tuesday, the 4th of November, 1 740. The first rudiments of his education he received at Westminster School. He very early discovered an uncommon vigour of mind, and made proficiency in the languages much beyond most of his contemporaries. He used to employ his by-hours, while at the grammar-school, in writing exercises for such idle or dissipated young nobility as either could not, or would not write them themselves. By this means he sometimes gained three or four shillings a day.
* The substance of this short account of Mr. Toplady’s life is taken from the Christian’s Magazine, for January, 1791, with some additions and alterations.
After his father’s death, his mother (having some claims upon an Irish estate) took him with her into that kingdom; and entered him a student in Trinity College, Dublin, where he soon took his degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was an indefatigable student in every branch of literature and science; but, as he very early devoted himself to the service of Christ in the church, he chiefly cultivated those studies which were best calculated to make him (through the divine blessing) an able minister of the New Testament. He took much pains to render himself a proficient in the Hebrew and Greek languages, that he might be qualified to read and study the scriptures of truth in their sacred originals. His writings abundantly shew that he was, in a high degree, master of them both.
About the 15th year of his age, it pleased God to bring him under awakenings of conscience, on account of the guilt and miseiy of his natural state; and to shew him his absolute need of Christ. He was a considerable time in great perplexity and doubt between the Armrnian and Cahinistic schemes. He read with avidity many books on each side. At last a kind of Providence brought in his way Dr. Manton on the 17th of John: which was made the happy mean of giving his strong Arminian prejudices the first effectual blow. By the time he arrived at his 1 8th year, he had (through the Spirit’s supernatural teaching) attained a clear and settled belief of the doctrines of grace; and continued to the day of his death a bold and determined enemy to the Arminian heresy. He used often to say among his intimates, “that he should, when in heaven, remember the year 1758, (the 18th of his age) with gratitude and joy.
He entered into orders on Trinity Sunday, the 6th of June, 1762. He was soon after inducted into the living of Blagdon, in Somersetshire, and afterwards into that of Broad-Hembury, in Devonshire. In both charges he shewed himself an able, faithful, and zealous servant of Christ; “a labourer that needeth not to be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth.” It was during his residence at Broad-Hembury that he composed the greater part of those valuable works, which will perpetuate and endear his memory to all the friends of truth through succeeding ages. He occasionally visited London, and soon contracted an intimacy with an extensive circle of friends there. The lustre of his pulpit talents could not be hid. He was much followed, and much admired. Three years before his death his health began to be much impaired by close study and excessive application. He began to apprehend that the air of Devon was too moist for one of his delicate constitution. By the advice of friends he removed to London in the year 1775. But he had not well arrived, when he was earnestly solicited by his numerous friends, to engage to preach in the chapel belonging to the French Reformed, in Leicester Fields. Their pressing importunities, and an ardent desire of being useful to immortal souls, prevailed over every other consideration. For a short time he statedly supplied that charge. But intense application to study, and late sitting, soon wasted his remaining strength, and accelerated the premature end of his ministry and labours. He fell into a consumption, and entered into his Master’s joy on the 11th of August, 17T8, the 38th year of his life, and the 16th of his ministry.
His bodily frame seems to have been rather tall and slender; and his natural temper extremely keen and boisterous. Impatient of contradiction, he was in the heat of disputation, apt to be hurried on by the mere impetuosity of his passions, to a degree of warmth bordering on dictatorial insolence.
His mind was endowed with vast powers of conception. His understanding was clear and capacious, his judgment solid and correct, his imagination lively, and his invention uncommonly prompt and fertile. His great natural powers were much improved by a liberal education and close study. His early acquaintance with the power of religion induced him to delight much in the study of the scriptures. He soon acquired, under divine influence, a very accurate and extensive knowledge of the word of God. In his public labours he eminently deserved the noble character of Apollos, “A man mighty in the scriptures.” His writings clearly show his intimate acquaintance with the ancient fathers and systematic writers. He seems to have inherited a large portion of the zeal and spirit of Austin and Broadwardin: and, like them too, to have bent the whole force of his genius against the Pelagian and Arminian heresies. The narrow escape which, through the grace of God, he made, from being entangled in the fascinating toils of Arminianism might, perhaps, determine him the more to embrace every opportunity of exposing the danger to others. Being born and educated in the bosom of a church wrhich was overrun with this error, he boldly stood forth as a resolute defender of the doctrines of grace, from both pulpit and press. Arminians of every denomination smarted under his lash. This error seems to have been his favourite game; and, whenever it started, he followed the chace until he run it down. So fully was he versed in this controversy, that he never seems more master of his subject than when dissecting and confuting Arminianism. Many a sore drubbing poor Mr. Wesley, and his adherents, received from his able pen. Upon the whole, he was a burning and shining light — a skilful champion in the cause of God — and a lively and zealous Christian. He died as he lived — glorying only in the cross of Christ, and triumphing in the freedom and riches of adorable grace.
A little before his death, a report was in circulation, raised and industriously propagated by the Arminian faction, .that he had recanted those Calvinistic doctrines which he had all along publicly maintained with such strength of argument and warmth of zeal. When the false rumour came to his ears, he was filled with much indignation at this weak and wicked effort of his enemies against him. And, although he was very much weakened through long and severe distress, yet he determined openly to contradict this lying invention from the pulpit, and close his ministry by exhibiting, an open testimony in vindication of the doctrines of grace. With the greatest fortitude of soul he executed his resolution; although his voice was now become so weak that he could not be distinctly heard.
Speaking to a friend about this matter, he said, “My dear friend, these great and glorious truths which the Lord, in rich mercy, has given me to believe, and which he has enabled me, though very feebly, to stand forth in the defence of, are not (as those who believe not, or oppose them say) dry doctrines, or mere speculative points — No: but, being brought into practical and heart experience, they are the very joy and support of my soul: and the consolations flowing from them, carry me far above the things of time and sense.” In his last moments, he was favoured with much comfortable experience of the divine presence; and finished his course under a strong gale of sensible assurance. “Oh, what a day of sunshine this has been to me!” (would he sometimes say) “I want words to express it — it is unutterable. Oh my friends, how good is God! — almost without interruption, his presence has been with me! — What a great thing it is to rejoice in death! — Christ’s love is unutterable!” Some passages of scripture he frequently repeated; and descanted with peculiar emotions of joy and rapture upon the latter part of Rom. viii. When very near the end of his conflict, on his awaking from a slumber, he cried out, “Oh what delights! who can fathom the joys of the third heavens! — I cannot find words to express the comforts I feel in my soul! — they are past expression. The consolations of God to such an unworthy wretch are so abundant, that he leaves me nothing to pray for but a continuance of them. I enjoy a heaven already in my soul. My prayers are all converted into praise. — Nevertheless, I do not forget, that I am still in the body, and liable to all those distressing fears which are incident to human nature, when under temptation, and without any sensible divine support: but so long as the presence of God continues with me, in the degree in which I now enjoy it, I cannot but think that such a desponding frame is impossible.”
Within an hour of his death he called his friends and servant, and asked them, If they could give him up? they replied in the affirmative, since it pleased God to be so gracious to him: then said he, “I bless the Lord you are brought so cheerfully to part with me, and give me up into the hands of my dear Redeemer! it will not be long when God will take me; for no mortal man can live, (bursting into tears of joy) after the glories which God has manifested to my soul.” Soon after this, he closed his eyes, and slept in Jesus.
Thus died this great and good man. Maysuch striking displays of divine love and sovereign grace encourage all who truly believe in the Lord Jesus, to trust him more confidently, to love him more ardently, to follow him more submissively, and to serve him more zealously; in the well-grounded hope, that they too, in the end, shall find death prove their unspeakable gain.