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THE HAZARD OF LOVING THE CREATURES by ISAAC WATTS

First Line: WHERE'ER MY FLATTERING PASSIONS ROVE
Last Line: FOR WE HAVE ALL IN THEE.

Where'er my flattering passions rove,
I find a lurking snare;
'Tis dangerous to let loose our love
Beneath the Eternal Fair.

Souls whom the tie of friendship binds
And partners of our blood,
Seize a large portion of our minds,
And leave the less for God.

Nature has soft but powerful bands,
And Reason she controls;
While children with their little hands
Hang closest to our souls.

Thoughtless they act the old serpent's part;
What tempting things they be!
Lord, how they twine about our heart,
And draw it off from thee!

Our hasty wills rush blindly on
Where rising passion rolls,
And thus we make our fetters strong
To bind our slavish souls.

Dear Sovereign, break these fetters off,
And set our spirits free;
God in himself is bliss enough,
For we have all in thee.



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