[f. LEGAL + -ISM.]
1. Theol. Applied reproachfully to the principles of those who are accused of adhering to the Law as opposed to the Gospel; the doctrine of justification by works, or teaching which savors of that doctrine.
1838. Fraser’s Mag., XVII. 748. The theory of Dissenters is national legalism; the theory of Churchmen is national gospel.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics (1860), II. x. i. The frigid legalism of the creed of Islam.
1861. Trench, 7 Ch. Asia, 83. The first great battle which the Church had to fight was with Jewish legalism.
1876. [Seeley], in Macm. Mag., XXXIV. 533/2. A new system of Christian legalism arose which reigned for centuries.
1901. J. Denney, in Expositor, Jan., 12. It is by its relation to legalism that Paul has to define Christianity.
2. A disposition to exalt the importance of law or formulated rule in any department of action.
1878. R. H. Hutton, Scott, i. 3. That disposition towards … legalism of mind.
1885. A. V. Dicey, Lect. Stud. Law Const., 160. Federalism, lastly, means legalism—the predominance of the judiciary in the constitution—the prevalence of a spirit of legality among the people. Ibid. (1898), in Atlantic Monthly, LXXXII. 444/2. Englishmen and Americans, moreover, are profoundly influenced by the spirit of legalism.
