W T Turpin

Has Christ got His place in your hearts? Is Christ supreme there? That is a solemn question for every one of us! And I do not say, beloved friends, for a moment, is He first? because I apprehend that will not suit Him. No; but is He all? Has He every place? The difference is very apparent. Suppose I say that Christ has the first place, the question is, who comes afterwards? If it satisfies the blessed Lord to take the first place in my heart, then I am at liberty to put next to Him whom I please. But if Christ has every place, then all that comes in there must come in under Him — that is the difference, and a mighty difference too. If Christ is the supreme sovereign of my affections and my heart, if He is enthroned king there, then all that comes in must come in under Him. If He is only first, then I can put whom I like next; but if He is all, then nothing can come in except in accordance with Christ, and under Christ. And I know you are not safe, you are on the ground of temptation, you are near to a slip, if Christ has not that place of entire sovereignty in your soul. If He has not the entire command of your heart I say you are not safe; you have begun the downward path, that is the commencement. And hence the wise man says, by the Spirit of God, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."