Prayers for a Sick Child

Righteous, O God, are all Thy ways!
A sinful still-afflicted man
The cause I mournfully confess,
And bleeding with another's pain,
And justly punish'd in my son,
I cry — Thy awful will be done!

The cause in its effect I find,
My sin in its chastisement read:
Thy judgments bring my sin to mind,
And guilty of his death I plead,
If justice now demand its prey,
And Thou art come my son to slay.

Less than Thy least of mercies, I
Have mercies numberless abused.
Worthy a thousand deaths to die
Who life, eternal life refused,
Provoked by vile idolatry,
And loved Thy creature more than Thee.

Wherefore Thy righteousness I own,
If Thou the forfeiture require,
If now I hear his latest groan,
And while I see my child expire,
The sorrow break my aching heart,
The sight my soul and body part.

Yet spare him — for His only sake
Who never sinn'd against Thy love,
And from the gates of death bring back,
In honour of my Friend above
Who offers up the sinner's prayer,
Whose blood beseeches Thee to spare,

God of unfathomable grace,
Whom now I in the dust adore,
Omnipotent the dead to raise,
Display the wonders of Thy power,,
And kindly give me back my son,
To' exalt and glorify Thine own.