Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

13 Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

1 Open now thy gates of beauty,
   Zion, let me enter there
   Where my soul in joyful duty
   Waits on Him who answers prayer.
   O how blessed is this place,
   Filled with solace, light and grace!

2 Gracious God, I come before Thee,
   Come Thou also down to me.
   Where I find Thee and adore Thee,
   There a heav'n on earth must be.
   With Thy grace O enter Thou,
   Make my heart Thy temple now.
                         Benjamin Schmolck
                         Trans. by Catherine Winkworth
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Hymnary.org lists the following additional verses:

3 Here Thy praise is gladly chanted,
   Here Thy seed is duly sown;
   Let my soul, Thy blessing granted,
   Precious sheaves bring forth alone.
   Grant that all I hear may be
   Fruitful unto life in me.

4 Thou my faith increase and quicken,
   Let me keep that gift divine;
   When temptations come and thicken,
   Make Thy Word forever shine
   As my guiding star thro' life,
   As my comfort in the strife.

5 Speak, O Lord, and I will hear Thee,
   Let Thy will be done indeed;
   May I undisturbed draw near Thee
   While Thou dost Thy people feed;
   Here of life the fountain flows,
   Here is balm for all our woes.

</idle musing>