Sublapsarian

n. [Fr. sublapsarien, sublapsaire, from Lat. prefix sub, under, below, after, and lapsus, fall. See LAPSE.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of that class of Calvinists who consider the decree of election as contemplating the apostasy as past, and the elect as being in a fallen and guilty state; an Infralapsarian.

☞ The doctrine of their antagonists, the Supralapsarians, was, that the decree of election contemplated the elect as to be created, and to apostatize with the rest of the race, and then to be rescued and saved by divine grace. The Sublapsarians considered the election of grace as a remedy for an existing evil; while the Supralapsarians viewed it as a part of God's original purpose in regard to men.