Centenary of the Baptists in Nova Scotia : A discourse delivered at Hillsburgh, June 10, 1860.

Psalm cxxvi.3. The Lord hath done great things for rs.This expression of grateful feeling was uttered by God's people on a memorable occasion.Jerusalem had been burned with fire ; the " holy and beautiful house" had been profaned and destroyed ; and the captive tribes, worn down by oppres- sion and insult, had sunk into despondency.Few among them remembered the promises.But God had not forgotten them.When the appointed time came the heart of the king was touched, and the exiles were restored to their homes.It was an interposition altogether unlooked-for, and so wonderful that it was difficult to believe the reality.As Peter *' thought he saw a vision " when he was experiencing an actual deliverance, so at this earlier time the mercy seemed too great for faith, and " when the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion," said the church, "we were like them that dream."Even heathen beholders were struck by it, and acknowledged the hand of God : *' then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them."" Yes !" responded the saints ..." It is the Lord-The Lord hath done great things for us."Many a time since there has been a similar utterance.With what astonishment and joy did the Apostles contemplate their brilliant su3cesses !They saw Jews and Gentiles bowing before the cross, jointly acknowledging their indebtedness to the grace of God, and uniting in one holy brotherhood." I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," said Pawl, " for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one thatbelieveth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek/ 1 Romans i. 16. " Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place," 2 Cor.ii.i4.All believers exclaimed, '* The Lord hath done great things for us."Not less marvellous did the victories of the Reformation appear.When Luther, in Germany-Zuingle, in Switzerland -Tyndale, Cranmer, and Knox, in Great Britain, heard on every side the voices ot those who prayed and praised God in their own languages-and beheld, not merely the throwing off of the papal yoke, but the substitution of personal, spiritual religion, springing from faith in the Saviour, for vain superstitions and blind obedience to the priesthood they were filled^with amazement.God had arisen, and his enemies were scattered.The light of the church had come.Gladness penetrated all hearts."The Lord hath done great things for us."The words of the text may be fitly employed by ourselves and our brethren in this land.The present year is the Centenary of our Denomination.We have been a hundred years in Nova Scotia, and " great things " have been done for us.A hundred years ago, the Rev. John Sutton, a Baptist minister from New Jersey, accompanied a band of emigrants to Nova Scotia.They settled in the township of Newport.Whether there were any Baptists in the company besides Mr. Sutton, is not recorded ; but it may be considered proba- ble, otherwise it is difficult to account for his joining the emigrant body.One of the number, Daniel Dimock, had embraced Baptist principles, but in deference to his father, whose prejudices against everything Baptist were at tha- time very strong, had hitherto abstained from reducing his principles to practice.Mr. Sutton began immediately to preach the gospel.Sinners were converted, and baptism followed conversion.Daniel Dhnock carried into effect his long cherished convictions, and many others obeyed the command of the Saviour.The minister returned to his native land, but the good seed which he planted continued to spring up and bear fruit.Much obscurity hangs over our early history, and it is especially difficult to account for the long interval which elapsed before the formation of a Baptist church ; -the fact, however, cannot be disputed that the first church of our denomination was organised at Horton in 1778-the second, at Halifax, in 1795.The latter was for many years the only Baptist Church in the province, in the strict sense of the term, the other churches being composed of Oongregationalists and Baptists united, and the church at Horton having adopted open or mixed communionin the second year of its history.The establishment of the Association in 1800 was an important event.

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