Where-E'er My Flatt'ring Passions Rove
The sermon warns of the dangers of allowing our passions and distractions to control us, and encourages us to focus on our love for God as the source of true happiness and fulfillment.
Isaac Watts preaches about the dangers of letting our passions, friendships, family ties, and even our own children take precedence over our love for God. He highlights how these earthly attachments can distract us from God's eternal beauty and lead us astray, likening them to lurking snares and powerful bands that control our hearts. Watts calls for a breaking of these fetters and a freeing of our spirits, emphasizing that true bliss and fulfillment can only be found in God Himself.
Text
Where-e'er my flatt'ring Passions rove
I find a lurking snare;
'Tis dangerous to let loose our love
Beneath th'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 th'old serpent's part;
What tempting things they be!
Lord, how they twine about our heart,
And draw it off from thee!
Dear Sovereign, break these fetters off,
And set our spirits free;
God in himself is bliss enough,
For we have all in Thee.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Dangers of Allowing Passions to Control
- A. The snare of loving earthly things too much
- B. The danger of letting go of our love for God
- II. The Distractions of Human Relationships
- A. The tie of friendship can be a distraction
- B. Family relationships can also be a distraction
- III. The Power of Nature and Reason
- A. Nature has a powerful hold on our emotions
- B. Reason can also control our thoughts and actions
- IV. The Temptations of Children
- A. Children can be a source of temptation
- B. They can draw us away from God
Key Quotes
“Where-e'er my flatt'ring Passions rove I find a lurking snare;” — Isaac Watts
“Thoughtless they act th'old serpent's part;” — Isaac Watts
“Lord, how they twine about our heart, And draw it off from thee!” — Isaac Watts
Application Points
- We must be aware of the ways in which our passions and distractions can control us, and make a conscious effort to prioritize our love for God.
- Focusing on God's love and provision is enough to bring us bliss and satisfaction, and should be our primary focus.
- We must break free from the 'fetter' of earthly things and trust in God's sovereignty.