\E*ras"tian\ (?; 106), n. (Eccl. Hist.)
One of the followers of Thomas Erastus, a German physician
and theologian of the 16th century. He held that the
punishment of all offenses should be referred to the civil
power, and that holy communion was open to all. In the
present day, an Erastian is one who would see the church
placed entirely under the control of the State. --Shipley.