We are a garden walled around

We are a garden walled around. Isaac Watts* (1674-1748). From Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707), Book I, ‘Collected from the Scriptures’ (Hymn LXXIV). It was entitled ‘The Church the Garden of Christ; Sol. Song 4. 12, 14, 15. and 5.1.’ It began We are a Garden wall’d around, Chosen and made peculiar Ground; A little Spot inclos’d by Grace Out of the World’s wide Wilderness. Like Trees of Myrrh and Spice we stand Planted by God the Father’s Hand; And all his Springs in Sion flow, To make the young Plantation grow. The word ‘peculiar’ is used, here as elsewhere, to mean ‘special’ (cf. ‘Peculiar honours’). The Lord (the ‘Saviour-God’, to distinguish him from the Judge-God of Genesis) is invited...