ANTINOMIANS, (from call, against, and vo,itos, a law) those who deny the obligation of the moral law, and who hold such tenets as supersede the necessity of a virtuous life. The name was first given by Luther, in 1538, to the followers of John Agricola, who taught, that the law was not necessary under the new dispen sation of the gcspel ; and who was accused of thus pro moting the most licentious practices. Agricola, how ever, disclaimed the sentiments which were imputed to him ; and which were rather inferences deduced from his doctrines, than principles inculcated by himself. It appears, that he did not intend to condemn the precepts of morality in general ; but that he considered the par ticular law of the ten commandmants, as addressed only to the Jews, and as now superseded by the gospel. At the same time, he explained the gospel, as compre hending, not merely the doctrine of salvation through faith in the merits of Christ, but likewise all the pre cepts of holiness and virtue, delivered by the Saviour. Caspar. Sagittarius, Introduct. ad Mst. Eccles. Bayle's Diet. art. Islebius. Mosheim's Ch. Hist. 4, 321. See AGRICOLA, JOHN.
The Antinomians appeared in England during the reign of Oliver Cromwell, and are charged with the most libertine principles. Some of them did indeed maintain, that, as the elect arc in a state of grace, their wicked actions are not really sinful, and do not deprive them of the divine favour. But the peculiar doctrine of the greater part was nothing more than this, that though holiness is absolutely essential in the true Christian, yct, as all the elect, and as they only, will be enabled to at tain it, all exhortations to holiness are unnecessary ; and that, in preaching the gospel, it is sufficient to incul cate the necessity of faith in Christ, and to unfold the blessings which are promised to his disciples. Such unscriptural notions are not yet completely exploded in this country ; and it is to be feared, that they often tend to relax the obligation, and to reduce the standard of Christian morals. Hornbeck's Sum. Controv. 800. Neal's History of Purit. 4, 87. Mosheim's Ch. Hist. 5, 411. Dr William's Gospel Truth Stated and Vindicated. Bella my's Dial. Letters, and Essays. (q)