For a Sick Friend

Jesus, omnipotent to save
Both soul and body from the grave,
Thy saving power exert,
The outcast's Hope, the sinner's Friend.
With all Thy balmy grace descend
Into a broken heart.

Thou must admit the sinner's plea,
And help his desperate misery
Who feels himself undone,
Who fears to lift his guilty eyes,
Or only by his silence cries
For mercy at Thy throne.

Thy bowels melt at his distress,
Thy heart o'erflows with tenderness,
And for his sorrows bleeds,
Thy Spirit of supplicating love
One with his Advocate above
In all the members pleads.

Mercy we ask in Jesus' name,
Mercy for a mere sinner claim;
Mercy and Thou art one:
Nor canst Thou, Lord, Thyself deny,
While all the church for mercy cry,
And in Thy Spirit groan.

Come then, his life, his strength, his peace,
The prisoner let Thy blood release,
Thy blood the patient heal,
While prostrate at Thy feet we pray,
Thy blood wash all his sins away,
And now his pardon seal.

This moment come, and touch his hand,
This moment, dearest Lord, command
The fever to depart,
This moment let our faithful prayer
Thy answer to his conscience bear,
And reach his happy heart.