We Are a Garden Wall'd Around
The sermon emphasizes our identity as a chosen garden, nurtured by God's grace and called to bear spiritual fruits in communion with Christ.
Isaac Watts preaches about believers being a garden wall'd around, chosen and made peculiar ground by God's grace, like trees planted by the Father's hand in Sion, where His springs flow to make the young plantation grow. He calls for the heavenly wind to blow on this garden of perfume, for the Spirit Divine to descend and breathe a gracious gale on the plants beneath, activating every grace like faith, love, and joy. The sermon emphasizes inviting Jesus to come and taste the pleasant fruits at His own feast, where believers are called to partake of the Tree of Life and experience the abundance of God's love.
Text
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.
Awake, O heavenly Wind, and come,
Blow on this garden of Perfume;
Spirit Divine, descend and breathe
A gracious Gale on Plants beneath.
Make our best Spices flow abroad
To entertain our Saviour-God:
And faith, and Love, and joy appear,
And every Grace be active here.
Let my Beloved come, and taste
His pleasant Fruits at his own Feast.
I come, my Spouse, I come, he cries,
With Love and Pleasure in his Eyes.
Our Lord into his Garden comes,
Well pleas'd to smell our poor Perfumes,
And calls us to a Feast divine,
Sweeter than Honey, Milk, or Wine.
Eat of the Tree of Life, my Friends,
The Blessings that my Father sends;
Your Taste shall all my Dainties prove,
And drink abundance of my Love.
Jesus, we will frequent thy Board,
And sing the Bounties of our Lord:
But the rich Food on which we live
Demands more Praise than Tongues can give.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding our identity as a garden - The significance of being chosen and peculiar - The grace that encloses us
- II points: - The role of God in our growth - The importance of spiritual nourishment - The metaphor of trees and springs
- III points: - The call for divine intervention - The need for the Holy Spirit's presence - Awakening our spiritual senses
- IV points: - Offering our best to God - The fruits of faith, love, and joy - Creating an atmosphere for worship
- V points: - The invitation to communion with Christ - Experiencing the sweetness of His presence - The significance of divine feasting
- VI points: - The blessings of the Tree of Life - The abundance of God's love - The call to partake in His goodness
- VII points: - The importance of gratitude in worship - The richness of God's provisions - Responding to His generosity with praise
Key Quotes
“We are a Garden wall'd around, Chosen and made peculiar Ground;” — Isaac Watts
“Awake, O heavenly Wind, and come, Blow on this garden of Perfume;” — Isaac Watts
“Eat of the Tree of Life, my Friends, The Blessings that my Father sends;” — Isaac Watts
Application Points
- Reflect on your identity as a chosen child of God and how it influences your daily life.
- Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to cultivate the fruits of faith, love, and joy within you.
- Engage in regular communion with Christ to deepen your relationship and experience His abundant love.