Open wide the garden gate

1 Open wide the garden gate,
Let the little wand'rers in;
Let them now no longer wait,
Tho' their lives are soiled by sin.
There is room enough for them
In the perfume-laden bow'rs,
Room for many a sparkling gem
'Mid the Gard'ner's living flowr's.

2 Take them from the sin toss'd flood,
Moor them at the Eden isle;
Sprinkled with atoning blood,
Theirs shall be an angel smile.
Shield them from the world's stern care,
Guide their little footsteps right;
Let them breathe the heavenly air,
Let them see its living light.

3 Suffer them to come to Him,
Shepherd of the cherub band;
He can light the valley dim,
Leading from this desert land,
Nurtured with a kindly care,
All the weeds of sin kept down,
Golden fruit their lives shall bear,
Till they win the sparkling crown.

4 And with golden harps in hand,
Glad'ning all that blest abode,
They shall shine a star-gem'd band
In the coronal of God.
Open, then, the garden gate,
Let the little wand'rers in;
See the blessed Saviour wait--
Wait to save their souls from sin.


Source: The Plymouth Sabbath School Collection of Hymns and Tunes #256