Society People, a name given to the Covenant- ers in Sn,tl;in.l by Wodrow (iii, ;j,'>7) and others, be- cauHe they formed themselves into societies for mutual religious intercourse ami edilicatiim.
Socinianism, a development of the Arian lieresv, Jias for its IcjKhng feature the denial of our laird's di- vine nature, with the belief that he was a typical and uniipic man, displaying in so unpreoe<lented a manner those higher ehara<ierisiic« of human nature which make It a shadow of the divine nature that he was ciUUd ttie .S,n ..I ( ;.,d. iStc SotiNfS.
I. Si/s/em of Theolof)y. — Socinianism represents Jcsns as having been born of the Virgin JIary by a super- natural interposition of the \\o\y (ihost, in consecjuence of which he was a man free from original sin and its evil inclinations, but only a man. He was outwardly anointed prophet, priest, and king at his baptism by a material descent of a divine force and efficacy upon him in the form of a dove; but his full commission was given to him during some one or more interviews which he had with (iod when rapt up into heaven, probably tluring the forty days in the wilderness. He was (shutting out any idea of deity) the anointed Son of (;««!, and was established in the fulness of his do- minion by (Jod, who raised him (not by any co-opera- tion of his o\\\\) froin the dead, and delegated to him a supreme authority over men and angels. But in all this be is only a created being, and worship rendered to him should only be given to bira as the representa- tive of (Jod, not as his own right. The .Socinian sys- tem discards altogetlier the idea of union between di- vine an<l human nature, alleging that the two are so infinitely removed from each other that union between them is an impossibility. Its later development does not recognise Christ as, in any sense, an object of wor- ship, denies the supernatural origin which was attrib-. uted to him by the earlier form of the heresy, and looks upon him only as a very exalted saint and moral teacher.
.Socinianism, however, is not merely a system of ne- gations, but includes positive propositions. It not only denies the doctrine of the Trinity, but positively asserts that the (Jodhead is one in person as well as in essence. It not only denies the proper divinity of Jesus Christ, but positively asserts that he was a mere man — that is, a man, and nothing else or more than a man. It not only denies the vicarious atonement of Christ, but it asserts that men, by their own repentance and good works, procure the forgiveness of their sins and the enjoyment of (Jod's favor; and thus, while denying that, in any proper sense, Christ is their Saviour, it teaches that men save themselves — that is, in so far as they need salvation. It denies that the Spirit is a per- son wlio possesses the divine nature, and teaches that the Holy Ghost in .Scripture describes or expresses merely a quality or attribute of God.
In its theology .Socinianism re|)resents God as a be- ing whose moral character is composed exclusively of goodness and mercy, desiring merely the happiness of his creatures; thus virtually excluding from his char- acter that immaculate holiness which leads hini to hate sin, and that inflexible justice which constrains him to inflict upon the impenitent the punishment they de- serve. It also denies that (iod f(>resee8 the actions of his creatures, or knows anything about thein until they come to pass ; except in some special cases in which he h,is foreordained the event, and foresees it because he foreordained it. That they may not seena to derogate from (Jod's omniscience, they admit that (Jod knows all things that are knowable ; but they contend that contingent events are unknowable, even by an infinite being.
In its anihropology Socinianism denies, in substance, the fall of man, and all original depravity, and asserts that men are now, as to all mor;d (pialities, tendencies, and capacities, in the same condition as when the race was created. Having no original righteousness, Adam, when he sinned, did not lose any (piality of that .sort. He simply incurred the divine displeasure, but retained the saiTU! moral nature with which he was created. Created naturally mortal, he would have died whether he had sinned or not, .Men are now, in their moral nature and tendencies, just as pure and holy as Adam when created; without, however, any itositive tendency towards (Jod or towards sin. Men are now under more unfavorable circumstances than Adam was, because of the many examples of sin, which increase the proba- bilities of actually falling into sin. Some avoid sin
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altogether, and obtain eternal blessedness as a reward ; others sin, but there is no difficulty in obtaining for- giveness from God, and thus escaping the consequences of transgression.
In its Christology this system naturally denies the necessity of an atonement, and declares that Christ had nothing to do in the world for tlie fidtilment of his mission but to communicate fuller and more certain information about the divine character and govern- ment, the path of duty and future blesseihiess, and to set before men an example of obedience to God's law and will. The old Socinians rejected, therefore, the priestly office of Christ altogether, or conjoined and confounded it with the kingly one; while the modern Socinians abolish the kingly office and resolve all into the prophetical. His sutfering of death, of course, did not; belong to the execution of the priestly, but of the prophetical office; in other words, its sole object and design were confined within the general range of serv- ing to declare and confirm to men the will of God. Thus was revealed an immortality beyond death, of which no certainty had been given to men before Christ's death.