The world in which man is, is as lost as himself, if I don[’]t see the world to be lost as well as man, I don[’]t see full redemption. Salvation before the flood was to deliver from the place about to be destroyed, the same with Lot from Sodom. It is not an alteration of character merely, but converted from every thing, & a resting upon God. Now what is the testimony[?] Why the testimony is unto the ability of God to rescue man from this lost condition. Xt is the power of God to salvation and the wisdom of God also: but a stumbling block if man is seeking a sign. When man can’t help himself at all, God can, the same word that tells us that all flesh is profitable for nothing, is now not testing man at all, for he is told they are as bad as they can be, grace never would have been known, if it had not come
