INTRODUCTION. UR holy Convocation is over but its blessed memories remain, and the refreshing and stimulating addresses are here reproduced for the help of brethren and sisters far away on mission-fields and in dry and parched places, as well as for those who gathered with us and value this permanent record of our three days' feast. The secret of this memorable Conference lies here-that in the preliminary prayer meetings, on Monday and Tuesday, we got down low enough before God in humility and teachableness, and He in His abounding love could take us up and give us a blessing. Our prayers, that guidance and heavenly wisdom might be bestowed upon the speakers, were blessedly answered, and the spirit of criticism was disarmed. We thank God for the stillness and solemnity of our various meetings, and for the sweet Communion season in remembrance of our crucified, risen, and coming Lord. We praise Him for every dear soul in whom desires for more holiness were awakened or strengthened, and for any who have given themselves up wholly to Him, in whatever service He has need of them, and for all fresh interest awakened in the hearts of His children for work amongst Jews and Gentiles; and we pray that in days of unblushing and alarming ungodliness the Mildmay Conference may be used by the power of God's Holy Spirit in raising up and keeping aloft a standard for the truth, around which true-hearted soldiers of Christ may rally, and so God's judgments may be averted from our land and from our people. It will not be considered out of place if those who have the conduct of these annual gatherings continue to plead with the readers of this little volume for a large place in their interest and prayers on behalf of the mission work of Mildmay, carried on by one hundred Deaconesses and eighty nurses in two hospitals and twenty-three London missions; at Northampton and Brighton, at Malta and Jaffa; and for the training of those who are preparing for Deaconess work at home and Zenana work abroad. The letter of invitation to the Conference was as follows: "BELOVED CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, Another Mildmay Conference is at hand. What hallowed memories cluster round the words! what happy, helpful, holy seasons do they recall! Early days of smaller Barnet Conferences come to our recollection too, when the beloved originator of our yearly feast went in and out amongst us, and when the counsel of other valued servants of the Lord, now, like him, in their Master's presence above, cheered and strengthened us. "And what thoughts of gratitude do they also awaken to Him who has so graciously shielded, guided, sustained, and blessed us during the later years in which we have sought, in dependence on Him, to carry on the work committed to us, in the gathering together of all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, who could come to meet with us for mutual edification and encouragement. "Truly we can say, 'The Lord hath been mindful of us;' and as we now venture to invite you once again to the place where we have so often met with Him and with each other, we can confidently add, 'He will bless us.' There we have set up many an 'Ebenezer,' there by faith we see inscribed 'Jehovah-Jireh.' In this expectation we ask you to unite with us at Mildmay on June 24th, 25th, and 26th. "The subject selected for consideration this year is one which we believe you will regard as suitably following that of our last Conference. Then we were led to meditate on the theme which rouses the highest aspirations of the heart of every child of God, and which will occupy our thoughts throughout a glorious eternity-'The knowledge of God.' It cannot be but that many have given praise for the wonderfully helpful teaching on that subject-the simplest and yet the deepest which could possibly engage our minds—which was brought home to us by the ministry of our brethren in the power of the Holy Ghost. "We now propose for meditation and conference, a subject of hardly less importance, since it describes one main purpose for which our Lord Jesus died, for which we have been saved, for which the Holy Ghost dwells in us, and in the execution of which we are trained for the occupations of eternity. "The Service of God is the blessed employment to which, as His accepted children, we are now called, and which will be our glorious privilege hereafter. "Who can truly estimate its privileges, its dignity, its responsibilities? "Yet, beloved brethren, what poor service do we render! How imperfect! how defiled! how unworthy! Do we not need instruction, guidance, warning, encouragement? Where shall we find it but in our Master's Word? where shall we seek it but at His feet? Surely if we come together in the spirit of true humility, and with the desire to please Him who has called us into His blessed service, He will meet our needs, great and varied as they may be, He will give us guidance, He will renew our strength. "The gracious operation of God the Holy Ghost has been manifest of late years in perhaps nothing more than in the way in which He has been pleased to arouse the desire to engage in His service, in the wide and effectual doors He has opened, and in the number of labourers whom He has been sending forth into the harvest field, both at home and abroad. It is a token of our Father's hand being upon His people for good that, at the present moment, so many are eagerly asking, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?' It may probably be said with truth that at no other period in the history of the Church has there been so numerous an army of Christian workers. Certainly in none since apostolic times has missionary zeal been awakened to such an extent. Of what infinite importance is it then that we should rightly understand what the principles of true and acceptable service are; that we should consider Him who, as the only faultless Servant, has left us an example, that we should follow His steps.' And is it not also true that vast numbers remain, who have not yet perceived the privilege of service, and therefore have not responded to the appeal our blessed Lord makes to all whom He has redeemed? "The subject is, then, surely one upon the right apprehension of which results of infinite importance depend; results which cannot but affect the glory of God, so far as its maintenance is entrusted to His people-the highest interests of the Church of Christ-and the eternal welfare of those whom that Church is commissioned by Him to bring to the knowledge of the truth. "We therefore confidently hope and ask you to join us in earnest prayer, that our gracious God and Father may be pleased to use this Mildmay Conference to the stirring up the zeal of all His children to 'work while it is called to-day,' and that He will fulfil His own promise to 'direct their work in truth.' "May He bring us together in believing expectation of rich blessing from His own felt presence! May He abundantly vouchsafe to us the Holy Ghost! "We remain, "S. A. BLACKWOOD, JAMES E. MATHIESON, "Trustees of the Conference Hall. "CONFERENCE HALL, MILDMAY PARK, LONDON, N., 1st May, 1885." |