JAMES DUVAL TO THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES (Duval)

FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

COLDENHAM, Orange co., N. Y., May 10, 1843.

BROTHER BEEBE:—Since you last heard from me, I have still endeavored to declare my Master’s message to perishing sinners, that they “must be born again;” and that, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” It is evident and plain to every new-born soul, that all who ever do receive Christ as their Surety, their Saviour and their all, are those “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” And any who may profess to believe in Christ the Lord, who have not received him in the way appointed by God the Father, are none of his. Here we discover, my dear brother, that the power which is necessary to quicken and make alive, to beget again, to regenerate, to create in Christ Jesus, is not in us, nor of us; neither is it delegated to men or angels, but it is the work and province of the Holy Spirit alone, and as such cannot associate with itself human agency or means. It is the work of an infinite God to answer an infinite purpose, and cannot receive finite aid; neither does it require the assistance or co-operation of the creature, because the creature becomes the subject and the recipient of this grace, by which he is made an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. Now if this be a fair and just conclusion deduced from scripture, and the foundation of our hope in Jesus, can we not see at a single glance that salvation is of the Lord? And thus it is that we differ from our former selves, together with men generally, upon the subject of religion. And that sort of faith which it is contended must be had or may have, is not such a faith as justifies the believer in Christ. Now such views as the children of God have in regard to justification, are such as they could never learn or be taught in nature: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. ii. 14. Thus the ministers of Christ are clearly taught that their duty is not to make sheep, but to feed the lambs and sheep of God. When the Saviour interrogated Peter upon the subject of his love to him, and Peter so positively affirmed that he loved him, Jesus said, feed my sheep, feed my lambs. My brethren in the ministry, are we observing the admonition of Paul, Acts xx. 28, in taking charge of the flocks over which the Holy Ghost hath made us overseers? Are we endeavoring to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood? If so, we have the smiles of our heavenly Father, and the approbation of our own consciences. But, my brethren, if we assert to the description of the shepherds recorded in Ezek. xxxiv., having clothed ourselves with the wool and fatness of the flock, and do not feed the flock, only learn there what God hath pronounced against the unfaithful shepherd.

I commend you to God and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.

Yours by gospel ties,
JAMES DUVALL.