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text brought into your treatise, is either perverted, misconstrued, or falsely applied: therefore, as one that is commanded to "try the spirits whether they are of God," I have tried your spirit, and find that it is not; and, having "obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful," I have proved you a Liar. And if you can disprove what I have advanced against you, you are at full liberty to proclaim me one. But if, according to the modern cant, you treat my reply with silent contempt, I have only to add that divine truth, and just reproof, are not proper subjects of contempt. "He that hateth reproof shall die; and he that despiseth the word shall be destroyed."

THE

BARBE R;

OR

TIMOTHY SHAVED THE SECOND TIME,

BY THE

REFLECTION OF HIS SECOND GLASS.

THE OPERATOR,

WILLIAM HUNTINGTON, S. S.

THOU, SON OF MAN, TAKE THEE A SHARP KNIFE, TAKE THEE A BAR-
BER'S RAZOR.
EZEK. V. I.

AND THE LORD SHALL SHAVE WITH A RAZOR THE HEAD AND THE
MAIR OF THE FEET; AND IT SHALL ALSO CONSUME THE BEARD.

ISAIAH VII. 20.

PREFACE.

Christian Reader,

VARIOUS

ARIOUS and many are the ways by which the enemy of souls deceives the simple, the unstable, and the unwary. One way of deception is, by the grave appearance, and external shew of sanctity, that is often assumed by a blind guide. This is the wolf in sheep's clothing. And to judge of the goodness of the heart only by the look of the skin, without asking God to discover the deceiver, is judging according to appearance, and not judging righteous judgment. Look more at the truth of their words, Reader, than at their external appearance; and attend more to the power of their expressions, than to their speech. "I will know," says Paul, "not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power." "A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things." By their words of truth and power, they shall be justified, and by their words without truth and power, they shall be condemned. The Gibeonites deceived the princes of Israel by the appearance of their

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