stantaneously?' Perhaps it may be gradually wrought in some: I mean, in
this sense, they do not advert to the particular moment wherein sin ceases
to be. But it is infinitely desirable, were it the will of God, that it
should be done instantaneously; that the Lord should destroy sin 'by the
breath of his mouth,' in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. And so he
generally does--a plain fact, of which there is evidence enough to satisfy
any unprejudiced person. _Thou_, therefore, look for it every moment."--See
_Wesley's Sermons_, vols. i. and ii.

Oberlin Views Of Sanctification.

In the fall of 1836, during an interesting revival of religion in Oberlin,
Ohio, the minds of many became deeply interested in the inquiry, "Can we
live holy lives? and, if we can, how?" At first, fears were entertained
that some would run into the errors of the Perfectionists; but, finally,
after much prayer and investigation, they adopted the following views of
sanctification:--

"1. That entire obedience to the moral law constitutes entire
sanctification or holiness.

"2. That all moral agents are able to render this obedience.

"3. That because all moral agents are able to render this
obedience, they are bound to do so.

"4. That sufficient grace for the actual attainment of this state
is abundantly in the gospel, and that nothing prevents any
Christian from making this attainment in this life, but a neglect
to avail himself of the proffered grace of Christ.

"5. That all are bound to aim at and pray for this attainment in
this life, and that aiming at this state is indispensable to
Christian character.

"6. That obedience to the moral law, or a state of entire
sanctification, is in such a sense attainable, as to make it an
object of rational pursuit, with the _expectation of attaining
it_.

"7. That the philosophy of the mind, the commandments of God, the
promises and provisions of the gospel, and the attainments of Paul
and many others, should be presented, to induce men to aim at a
state of entire sanctification, with the expectation of attaining
it."

Since these views were embraced at Oberlin, they have been extensively
circulated by many books and pamphlets, and a paper, entitled the _Oberlin
Evangelist_. By many Christians and ministers of different denominations
these views have been received; but by others they are opposed.