ABSTINENCE, in a general ſenſe, the act or habit of refraining from ſomething to which there is a ſtrong propenſity. Among the Jews, various kinds of abſtinence were ordained by their law. The Pythagoreans, when initiated, were enjoined to abſtain from animal food, except the remains of ſacrifices; and to drink nothing but water, unleſs in the evening, when they were permitted to take a ſmall portion of wine. Among the primitive Chriſtians, ſome denied themſelves the uſe of ſuch meats as were prohibited by that law, others regarded this abſtinence with contempt; of 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 feaſting. In England, abſtinence from fleſh has been enjoined by ſtatute ſince the Reformation, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays, on vigils, and on all commonly called fiſh days. The like inſcriptions were renewed under Queen 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 to ſpare the ſtock of ſheep. The great faſt, ſays St. Auguſtin, is to abſtain from ſin.