“ ‘But does God work this great work in the soul gradually, or instantaneously?’ 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.
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.