A Scripture Testimony TO THE SAINTS PRACTICES, Wherein all may see the practise of the Holy Men and Women of God, in their Service in the Church of God, and what Good Works, and Practices, and Services they exhorted unto, as followeth, as you may see both in the Old and New Testament, which is the Duty of all True Christians to follow.  
YE are a peculiar People, Zealous of Good Works, Tit. 2.14.  
The Woman wrought a Good Work upon Christ, he saith in Mat. 26 10.  
Paul saith to the Church of Coll●ssions, Being fruitful in every Good Work, and increasing in the Knowledge of God, Col. 1.10.  
And that you may be established in every Good Word and Work, 2 Thess. 2.17.  
She, to wit, a Widow, well reported for her Good Works, 1 Tim. 5.9, 10.  
That the Church which believe in God might be careful to maintain Good Works; these things are good and profitable to men, Tit. 3.8.  
And let ours also( to wit, the Church of Christ) learn to maintain Good Works for necessary Uses, that they may not be unfruitful: this says Paul to Titus and to the Church, Tit. 3.14.  
Let us consider one another, to provoke to Love and to Good Works, Hebr. 10.24.  
That they do Good, that they be rich in Good Works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; for God giveth us all things to enjoy, 1 Tim. 6.17, 18.  
But to do Good and to Communicate, forget not; for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased, Hebr. 13.16.  
As God hath distributed to every man, and as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk, and so ordain I in all Churches, 1 Cor. 7.17.  
And Paul exhorts the Church of the Romans to their distributing to the Necessity of the Saints, and being given to Hospitality, Rom. 12.13.  
And to make Contribution for the poor Saints that were at Jerusalem, which the Apostle Paul mentions to the Romans, chap. 15.26.  
Only that we should remember the Poor, the same which I also was forward to do, faith the Apostle to the Church at Galatia, Gal. 2 10.  
If any man minister, let him do it of the Ability which God hath given him that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be Praises and Dominion forever and ever, Amen. 1 Pet. 4.11.  
And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not; as we have therefore Opportunity, let us do Good unto all men, especially unto the household of Faith, Gal. 6.9, 10.  
And whatsoever you do in Word or dead, do all in the Name of Jesus; and whatsoever ye do, do it hearty, as unto the Lord, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance; for ye do serve the Lord, Col. 3.17, 23, 24.  
Therefore to him that knoweth how to do Good, and doth it not, it is to him Sin, James 4 17.  
He that hath Pity on the Poor, lendeth to the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again, Prov. 19.17.  
And you may see, such as were careful to harken unto the Voice of the Lord God, and to obey and keep his Commandments; for the Lord thy God will bless thee, as he hath promised, Thou shalt sand unto many Nations, and thou shalt not borrow, and so forth, Deut 15.5, 6.  
For the Lord shall open unto thee his good Treasure, the Heaven to give thee Rain unto thy Land in his season, and to bless all the Works of thine Hands, & thou shalt lend unto many Nations, and thou shalt not borrow; and all People of the Earth shall see, that thou art called by the Name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee, Deut. 28.10, 12.  
I have been Young, and now am Old, yet have I not seen the Righteous forsaken, nor his Seed begging Bread; for he is Merciful and Lendeth, and his Seed is blessed, Psa. 37.25, 26.  
A Good Man sheweth Favour, and Lendeth, he will guide his Affairs with Discretion, Psa. 112.5.  
The Righteous sheweth Mercy, and giveth, Psa. 31.21.  
The Righteous giveth, and spareth not; for he giveth of his Bread to the Poor; he hath a bountiful Eye, and shall be blessed, Prov. 21.26. & 22.9.  
And He that giveth to the Poor, shall not lack, Prov. 28.27.  
God giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: So all men should give of that which they have received of him liberally, without upbraiding, as in James 1.5.  
And he that giveth, let him do it with Simplicity, Rom. 12.8.  
Give, and it shall be given unto you, saith Christ, Luke 6.38.  
See the Care of the Apostles, of the Poor Saints, as in 2 Cor. 9.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.  
But this I say, he which soweth sparing, shall reap sparing; & he which sows bountifully, shall reap bountifully, 2 Cor. 9.6.  
So every man according as he purposeth in his Heart, so let him give, not Grudgingly or of Necessity; for God loveth a cheerful Giver[ mark] and God is able to make all Grace abound towards you, that ye always having All-sufficiency in all things may abound to every Good Work, as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the Poor, his Righteousness remaineth forever;[ mark] now he that ministereth Seed to the sour, both ministereth Bread for your Food, and multiplies your Seed sown, and increaseth the Fruits of your Righteousness, Isa. 55.10. 2 Cor. 9 10.  
Being enriched in every Good thing to all Bountifulness, which causeth through us Thanksgiving to God.  
And you may see how the Disciples, every man according to his Ability, determined to sand Relief unto their Brethren, which dwelled in Judea, and they sent it by the Hands of Saul and Barnabas, Acts 11.29, 30.  
And so of Brotherly-Love, ye need not that I writ unto you; for God teacheth you to love one another, 1 Thes. 4.9.  
But whoso hath this World's Goods, and seeth his Brother have Need, and shuts up his Bowels of Compassion from him, how dwelleth the Love of God in him? 1 John 3.17.  
There is a Generation whose Teeth are as Swords, and their Jaw teeth as Knives, to devour the Poor from the Earth, and the Needy from among men, Prov. 30.14.  
And therefore the Poor and Needy is not to be Oppressed nor vexed, nor sent empty away, but relieved, and their Cause is to be pleaded, as in Prov. 31.9.  
And the Apostle saith to the Church, Give to him that needeth, Ephes. 4.28.  
And God will help all your need, according to his Riches in his Glory by Christ Jesus, Phil. 4.19.  
And Christ saith, That the Father-knoweth what things ye have need of, Mat. 6.8.  
And you may see the Manner and Way of Collection, that the Apostles ordered for the Saints, in 1 Cor. 16.1.  
And the Lord faith, If thou deal thy Bread to the Hungry, and that thou bring the Poor that are cast out to thy House, and when thou seest the Naked that thou cover him, and that thou hid not thyself from thy own Flesh, then shall thy Light break forth as the Morning, and thy Health shall spring forth speedily, and thy Righteousness shall go before thee, and the Glory of the Lord shall be thy Reward, Isa. 58.7. & Ezek. 18 7.  
And if thou draw out thy Soul to the Hungry, and satisfy the Afflicted, then shall thy Light arise in Obscurity, and thy Darkness shall be as the Noon-day.  
And the Lord shall-guide thee continually, and satisfy thy Soul in Drought, and make thy Bones fat, and thou shalt be like a Watered Garden, and like a Spring of Water, whose Waters fail not: here is the practise of Godliness, Isa. 58.7, 8, and so forth.  
The Hungry and thirsty their Souls fainteth in them, then they cry unto the Lord, and be satisfieth the longing Soul, and filleth the Hungry with Goodness, or good things, Psa. 107. Luke 1.53.  
The Lord which made Heaven and Earth, which giveth Food to the Hungry, and the Lord preserveth the Stranger, and relieveth the Widow and Fatherless; but the Way of the Wicked he turns up side down, Psal. 146.  
If thy Enemy hunger, give him Bread; if he thirst, give him Water to drink; for in that thou shalt heap Coals of Fire upon his Head, the Lord shall reward thee, Prov. 25.21, 22.  
And the Law of God ye may see in Ezekiel 18.7. He that hath not oppressed any, but hath restored the Debtor his Pledge, and hath spoiled none by violence, and hath given his Bread to the Hungry, and hath covered the Naked with his Garment, he shall live, and not die.  
And Job saith, I delivered the Poor that cried, and the Fatherless and him that had none to help him, and the Blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the Widows Hearts to sing, and be as a Father to the Poor, Job 29.  
Dorcas( a Woman) an old Di●ciple of Jesus Christ, when she was dead, it is recorded, this Woman was full of Good Works[ mark] full of Good Works and Alms which she did in her Life-time; and all the Widows[ mark] all they stood by Peter( Widows & Women) and wept, & shewed him the Coats and Garments that she had made whilst she was alive with them[ mark, with them] A Womens Meeting in the practise of Religion, Act. 9.35. to the End.  
Pure Religion and Undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the Fatherless & Widdows in their Afflictions, and to keep himself unspotted from the World, Jam. 1.27.  
And this Religion is to be practised by all the right and true Christians; For if a Brother or Sister be naked, and destitute of daily Food, & thou say unto one of them, Depart in Peace, warm yourselves, and fill your Bellies, notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the Body, what helpeth it? even so Faith, if it have no Works, is dead in itself, Jam. 2.15, 16, 17. See how James encourages to practise Religion, and to show forth the Works of Faith, that work by Love.  
If thou afflict any widow or Fatherless Child in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their Cry, saith the Lord, and my Wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the Sword, and your Wives shall be Widdows, and your Children Fatherless, Exod. 22.  
The Lord is good to all, and his Tender Mercies are over all his Works, Psal. 145.  
The Righteous considereth the Cause of the Poor; but the Wicked regardeth not to know it( to wit, the Cause of the Poor) what Condi ion they are in, Prov. 29.  
And if thy Brother be waxed poor, and fallen in decay with thee, then shalt thou relieve him, yea, though he be a Stranger or a Sojourner, that he may live with thee, Lev. 25.35.  
The Poor is hated even of his Neighbour, but the Rich hath many friends; but he that is Merciful to the Poor, happy is he, Prov. 14.21.  
He that Oppresseth the Poor, reproaches his Maker; but he that Honoureth him( to wit, his Maker) hath Mercy on the Poor, Prov. 14.  
Whoso mocks the Poor, reproaches his Maker, Pro. 17.  
Whoso stops his Ears at the Cry of the Poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard, Prov. 21.  
The Lord maketh Poor, and maketh Rich; he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 1 Sam. 12.  
Therefore I command thee, thou sh lt open thy Hand wide unto thy Brother, to thy Poor and to thy Needy in thy Land, saith the Lord, Deut. 15.  
The Poor useth Entreaties; but the Rich answereth roughly, Prov. 18.23.  
Here you may see what Care the Lord lays upon his People, to look after the Poor, Widdows and Fatherless, both in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospel; and how that they should obey him in his Commands, the Lord God, who created all, and gives the increase of all, and gives Man and Woman good things, both temporal and spiritual to do good withal; so the Lord is to be obeied, and his Truth is to be practised; and the pure Religion that is undefiled before God & the Father, is above all the Religions in the World: And this Religion is, To visit the Widdows and Fatherless in their Affliction, & to keep himself unspotted from the World, ( mark, unspotted from the World.) And this Religion is above the Papists, that must have a Purgatory to wash off their spots of the World, and above the Protestants, that must have a Body of Death and Sin to the Grave, with which they are spotted like Leopards; and these are the Religions of the World; and are not the pure and undefiled Religion before God and the Father; and their Fatherless and Widows in their Affl ctions are not visited: And therefore, you who are come to be of this pure Religion, undefiled before God and the Father, and do visit the Widows and Fatherless in their Afflictions, and do keep yourselves unspotted from the World, you are of the Religion that was not set up by man, but by Christ & his Apostles above 1600 years since, by which you see over all the Religions set up since, and see therefore that you practise it.  
And Job saith, If I did despise the Cause of my Man-Servant or of my Maid-Servant, when they contended with me, what then shall I do when God shall arise? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? See the Care of this Patient Man; is not this for all the true Christians to practise? Job 31. vers. 13, 14, 15. And saith Job, Did not he that made me in the Womb, make him? and did not one fashion us in the Womb? Vers. 16. And If I have with-held the Poor from their Desire, or have caused the Eyes of the Widow to fail, or have eaten my Morsel myself alone, and the Fatherless have not eaten thereof; from my Youth he was brought up with me as with a Father, and I have guided her( to wit, the Widow) from my Mother's Womb; If I have seen any perish for want of Clothing, or any poor without Covering, if his Loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the Fleece of my Sheep, if I have lift up my Hand against the Fatherless when I saw my Help in the Gate; then let mine Arm fall from my Sholder-blade, and mine Arm be broken from the Bone: The Stranger did not lodge in the Street, but I opened my Doors for the traveller, Job 31.17, 18, 19. Did not I Weep for him that was in Trouble? was not my Soul grieved for the Poor? Now here ye may all see the Actions and practise of this Man, by his practising the pure Religion; so it is not a Talk, but a walking in it, as you may see in Job 30, 31. Chapters.  
And blessed is he that considereth the Poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of Trouble, Psal. 41.9.  
Now all you that profess God and Christ, see how you walk in the Steps of these Good Men and Women, and not only to talk as they did, but do and practise as they did; for it is not every one that saith Lord, Lord, enters the Kingdom, but he that doth what he commands.  
And Christ saith, Ye call me Lord and Master, and ye say well, for so I am; and if I then your Lord and Master have was  shed your Feet, ye also ought to wash one anothers Feet: For I have given you an Example, that ye should do as I have done unto you. And if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them, John 13.17.  
And Christ saith, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven, Mat. 7.21.  
So all People may see by Christ's own Words, that their Saying and Speaking of God and Christ, and his Prophets and Apostles, signifies nothing, except they Do his Will, that is, Practise, and to be obedient to what he commands and requires.  
G. F.  
And let this be red amongst all the Men and Womens Meetings, that are gathered in the Name of Jesus, both in England, and beyond Seas.  
G. F.  
THE END.