We have come to the end of the minutes. What does this record for a
hundred years indicate? These old manuscripts traced by hands long
since gone to dust tell us that these people believed that they were
called with a Holy Calling; that it was their duty to shew forth the
works of Him who had called them out of darkness into His marvellous
light. They adopted the old doctrine that when they were Baptized,
they were Baptized into his death, and that henceforth they must
walk in oneness of life. That they observed the two grand
outstanding ordinances of the new covenant. Baptism on the
profession of their faith in their risen Lord, and the memorial of
his dying Love, the Supper instituted by Him for all His followers.
That they walked in fellowship with one another, and often met
together to talk with one another of the all important matters of
the soul. That they confessed that they were still angers and
pilgrims here, and that the object of their pilgrimage on earth was
to obtain an enduring inheritance in a better Country, that is an
Heavenly.
Also, that they as a Church exercise a watch care over one another.
If any were reported as having gone astray it is not left with the
pastor alone; Brethren are appointed by the Church to confer with
them, and to win them back. Nor need it be supposed that these
remonstrances ended in a report to the Church. If brethren remained
contumacious they were set aside or excluded. In many instances
discipline had a salutary effect. The wandering members came back
and were gladly received into their fellowship. It is also seen that
the Church recognized its obligation to give the Gospel to the
world. It is on record that this Church took up the collection in
the Maritime Provinces for Dr. Judson when he established himself in
Burmah as a Baptist Missionary.
From all these, we readily infer the divine origin of the Church. It
is a society of Christians who associate to help one another in all
that pertains to good honorable lives; to encourage one another when
in trouble; to bear one another’s burdens and so to fulfil the law
of Christ. A real Church, will, like its Divine Lord, be filled with
tender solicitude for the lost sheep.
We are ready to confess that the ideal has not been attained; but we
humbly claim that in striving for this we and our fathers have had
such an uplift as could not otherwise be possible. For whatever this
Church has been, for whatever it has done through a long line of men
and women, we, their successors desire to render the glory to Him,
whose spirit has ever prompted to such a course, and who by His
Grace has strengthened us to do His Will.