ABSTINENCE, in a general sense, the act or habit of refraining from something which we have a propensity to or find pleasure in.—Among the Jews, various kinds of abstinence were ordained by their law. Among the primitive Christians, some denied themselves the use of such meats as were prohibited by that law, others looked upon this abstinence with contempt; as to which, St Paul gives his opinion, Rom. xiv. 1-3. The council of Jerusalem, which was held by the Apostles, enjoined the Christian converts to abstain from meats strangled, from blood, from fornication, and from idolatry. Abstinence, as prescribed by the gospel, is intended to mortify and restrain the passions, to humble our vicious natures, and by that means raise our minds to a due sense of devotion. But there is another sort of abstinence, which may be called ritual, and consists in abstaining from particular meats at certain times and seasons. It was the spiritual monarchy of the western world, which first introduced this ritual abstinence; the rules of which were called rogations; but grossly abused from the true nature and design of fasting.—In England, abstinence from flesh has been enjoined by statute even since the reformation, particularly on Fridays, and Saturdays, on vigils, and on all commonly called fast-days. The like injunctions were renewed under Q. Elizabeth: but at the same time it was declared, that this was done not out of motives of religion, as if there were any difference in meats; but in favour of the consumption of fish, and to multiply the number of fishermen and mariners, as well as spare the stock of sheep. The great fast, says St Augustin, is to abstain from sin.