ORD is our defence;
And the HOLY ONE of Israel is our KING."

Instead of this many practically know very little of peace "which
passeth all understanding," of joy that is literally "unspeakable";
adjectives far more moderate would be found strong enough to express all
_they_ know of oft-troubled peace and intermittent satisfaction and
happiness. Many there are who fail to see that there can be but one
lord, and that those who do not make GOD _Lord of all_ do not make Him
_Lord at all_. The slightest reservation in our consecration shows that
we hold ourselves _as our own_, and consequently at liberty to give Him
as much or as little as we think fit. If we recognize Him as LORD and
MASTER, we have nothing to withhold, and nothing of our own, for we, and
all we have, are already His. But then, in return, all He has, and all
He is, become ours. Oh! blessed PORTION! Who would not wish henceforth
to have no private property in himself--in his members--in his
possessions--in his family--in his affections; but, in fullest
consecration, to acknowledge and recognize GOD'S right and to be no
longer a robber of GOD?

_"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto
his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel
... And they shall put My Name upon the children of Israel; and I
will bless them."_

Here we have the blessing that GOD _delights_ to give to those who have
dedicated themselves and their all to Him. Before considering it in
detail, let us notice, first, how spontaneous and unsought is this
blessing from GOD--the LORD _commanded_ Aaron and his sons to bless
Israel, to put His Name upon them; and declared His own unalterable
purpose, "I _will_ bless them." And then, let us ask ourselves the
question, what is

THE REAL MEANING OF BLESSING?

We frequently use the word so vaguely as to lose much of its
preciousness, and to overlook the primary meaning in some of its
secondary significations. For instance, we use it frequently as a
synonym of praise, and in speaking of blessing GOD, we think of praising
Him. But blessing does not merely mean praise, for GOD blesses us.
Again, sometimes we use it for some gracious gift, as when we speak of
the blessing of peace or of plenty. But blessing does not only signify
gift, for when we bless GOD we do not give to Him peace or plenty.
Blessing is _the moving of the heart towards an object of affection and
complacency_. The