The hymn has had a wide use among German speaking people in a translation made by Ernst Gebhardt, 1832-99. Fels des Heils, geöffnet mir, Birg’ mich, ew’ger Hort in dir! Lass das Wasser und das Blut, Deiner Seite heil’ge Flut, Mir das Heil sein, das frei macht Von der Sünden Schuld und Macht! Dem, was dein Gesetze spricht, Kann mein Werk genügen nicht. Mag ich ringen wie ich will, Fliessen auch der Tränen viel, Tilgt das doch nicht meine Schuld, Herr, mir hilft nur deine Huld. Da ich denn nichts bringen kann, Schmieg’ ich an dein Kreuz mich an Nackt und bloss—o kleid’ mich doch. Hülflos—ach erbarm’ dich noch. Unrein, Herr, flieh’ ich zu dir. Wasche mich, sonst sterb’ ich hier. Jetzt, da ich noch leb’ im Licht, Wenn mein Aug’ im Tode bricht, Wenn durch’s finst’re Tal ich geh’, Wenn ich vor dem Richter steh’, Fels des Heils, geöffnet mir, Birg’ mich, ew’ger Hort in dir! Augustus M. Toplady, born at Farnham, England, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. His conversion occurred at the age of 16 while on a visit in Ireland. The service was held in a barn and the text was Eph. 2:13: “But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” The preacher was an illiterate but warm-hearted layman named Morris. Concerning his conversion Toplady wrote: Strange that I, who had so long sat under the means of grace in England, should be brought nigh unto God in an obscure part of Ireland, amidst a handful of God’s people met together in a barn, and under the ministry of one who could hardly spell his name. Surely this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous. Toplady was ordained to the ministry of the Church of England in 1762 and in 1768 became vicar of Broadhembury. The last years of his life were passed in London preaching in a chapel of French Calvinists. He was a powerful preacher, and large congregations came to hear him. A strong Calvinist, and bitterly opposed to what he considered the reproach of Arminianism, he became involved in unfortunate controversies with John Wesley, during which neither disputant showed himself at his best. He died of consumption at the early age of 38. _MUSIC._ TOPLADY was composed for this hymn by Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872. It is a popular easily sung tune, and universally used in America with this hymn. Hastings was not a great musician and this tune, with its “sentimentality and rocking-chair rhythm,” can hardly be considered great music. But it has been a blessing to millions of people and will doubtless continue to be sung for years to come. In England the hymn is invariably set to other tunes and some American hymn books have introduced alternative tunes. The tune “Petra” (109) is used with this hymn, as is also _Grosser Gott wir loben Dich_ (519). For comments on Thomas Hastings see Hymn 120. 149. Strong Son of God, immortal love _Alfred Tennyson_, 1809-92