228 OUR HYMNS :
verge of heaven. At all times an impressive preacher, his peculiar circumstances lent additional weight to his words.
During the first year of this ministry, in 1776, he published his collection of hymns, 419 in number. They were collected from forty or fifty volumes, and included some of his own. And in December, 1775, he became editor of the " Gospel Magazine," but was compelled by illness to relinquish his editorship in the following summer, 1776. Some of his articles are signed " Minimus," some " Concionator," and some with his initials. They appeared in several volumes of the " Gospel Magazine," from 1774. He was also the author of " The Church of England, vindicated from the charge of Arminianism, &c.," 1779, and of some sermons.
Toplady s end was as happy and triumphant as was to have been expected from his holy and devoted course. Upon his doctor informing him, in answer to his inquiry, that his pulse was becom ing weaker and weaker, he replied, " Why, that is a good sign that my death is fast approaching, and, blessed be God, I can add that my heart beats every day stronger and stronger for glory." And after many other beautiful Christian words he said, when close to his end, bursting while he said it into tears of joy, " It will not be long before God takes me, for no mortal man can live after the glories which God has manifested to my soul." Thus he died in the 38th year of his age. His remains were brought from Knightsbridge to Tottenham Court Road Chapel, to be interred. Toplady had requested that the funeral should be as private as possible, and that there should be no funeral sermon ; but thousands gathered together, and the Rev. Rowland Hill felt impelled by his feelings to address the multitude, prior to the burial, on the solemn interest of the occasion, and to express his ardent affection for the departed saint.
We are indebted to Mr. Daniel Sedgwick for a complete collec tion of Toplady s hymns. This was published in 1860, and con sists of 133 hymns and poems, with a memoir. There is also given at the end a list of hymns that have been erroneously attri-
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