The heart that is established in Christ is also established for Christ. It becomes His royal throne, no longer occupied by His foe, no longer tottering and unstable. And then we see the beauty and preciousness of the promise, 'He shall be a Priest upon His throne.' Not only reigning, but atoning. Not only ruling, but cleansing. Thus the throne is established 'in mercy,' but 'by righteousness.'
I think we lose ground sometimes by parleying with the tempter. We have no business to parley with an usurper. The throne is no longer his when we have surrendered it to our Lord Jesus. And why should we allow him to argue with us for one instant, as if it were still an open question? Don't listen; simply tell him that Jesus Christ _is_ on the long-disputed throne, and no more about it, but turn at once to your King and claim the glorious protection of His sovereignty over you. It is a splendid reality, and you will find it so. He will not abdicate and leave you kingless and defenceless. For verily, 'The Lord _is_ our King; He will save us' (Isa. xxxiii. 22).
_Our hearts are naturally_-- _God can make them_-- Evil, Heb. iii. 12. Clean, Ps. li. 10. Desperately wicked, Jer. xvii. 9. Good, Luke viii. 15. Weak, Ezek. xvi. 30. Fixed, Ps. cxii. 7. Deceitful, Jer. xvii. 9. Faithful, Neh. ix. 8. Deceived, Isa. xliv. 20. Understanding, 1 Kings iii. 9. Double, Ps. xii. 2. Honest, Luke viii. 15. Impenitent, Rom. ii. 5. Contrite, Ps. li. 17. Rebellious, Jer. v. 23. True, Heb. x. 22. Hard, Ezek. iii. 7. Soft, Job xxiii. 16. Stony, Ezek. xi. 19. New, Ezek. xviii. 31. Froward, Prov. xvii. 20. Sound, Ps. cxix. 80. Despiteful, Ezek. xxv. 15. Glad, Ps. xvi. 9. Stout, Isa. x. 12. Established, Ps. cxii. 8. Haughty, Prov. xviii. 12. Tender, Ephes. iv. 32. Proud, Prov. xxi. 4. Pure, Matt. v. 8. Perverse, Prov. xii. 8. Perfect, 1 Chron. xxix. 9. Foolish, Rom. i. 21. Wise, Prov. xi. 29.