Articles
The Double Cure
The hymn Rock of Ages was written by Augustus Toplady in 1763. The first stanza was published in 1775, the full hymn in 1776 in Toplady’s own hymnal. As is the case with numerous hymns, a number of variant wordings have appeared through the centuries. In this case, two versions of the first stanza appear early on.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
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,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
One theory is that the first version reflected the influence of Methodist preachers on Toplady, who subsequently altered it as he adopted a more Calvinistic viewpoint. Regardless of what prompted the change, both versions of the hymn speak of sin needing a double cure: a cure from the guilt that it brings and a cure from its sickening effect in our lives.
Sin certainly makes us guilty. James wrote, “For whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (2:10). But it also ruins spiritual health. It darkens the understanding (Ephesians 4:18), hardens hearts (Hebrews 3:13), enslaves (Romans 6:16), takes up residence within us (Romans 7:17, 20), and leaves us spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-2).
Thanks be to God for what Toplady termed “the double cure.” It is Jesus’ blood, which atones for us and enables us to overcome sin’s power.
