ABSTINENCE, a voluntary and religious forbearance of any thing towards which there is an inclination ; but generally spoken of with regard to forbearance from necessary food. Many persons have supposed, that the antediluvians abstained from wine, and from flesh as food, because the Scripture expressly notices, that Noah, after the deluge, began to plant a vineyard, and that God permitted him to eat flesh ; (Gen. ix. 3. 20.) whereas he gave Adam no other food than herbs and fruits, i. 29. But the contrary opinion is supported by Calmet and other interpreters, who believe, that men, before the deluge, abstained from neither wine nor flesh. The Scriptures certainly represent violence as being the prevailing crime before the deluge ; that is, the unjustifiable taking away of human life : and the precepts given to Noah against the shedding of blood, seem to confirm this idea. The Institutes of Menu inform us, that animal food was originally used only after sacrifice, and as a participation consequent upon that rite.

The Mosaic law ordained, that the priests should abstain from wine during the time they were employed in the temple-service, Lev. x. 9. The same abstinence was enjoined on Nazarites, during the whole time of their separation, Numb. vi. 3, 4. The Jews abstain from several sorts of animals, specified by the law ; as do several other nations. (See Animals.) Among the primitive Christians, some ab stained from meats prohibited by the law, and from flesh sacrificed to idols ; — others disregarded such forbearance, and used their Christian liberty. Paul has given his opinion concerning this, in 1 Cor. viii. 7 — 10. and Rom. xiv. 1 — 3. The council of Jerusalem, held by the apostles, enjoined believers, converted from heathenism, to abstain from blood, from meats strangled, from fornication, and from idolatry, Acts xv. 20.

Paul says, (1 Cor. ix. 25.) that wrestlers, in order to obtain a corruptible crown, abstain from all things ; or from every thing which might weaken them. In his First Epistle to Timothy, (iv. 3.) he blames certain heretics, who condemned marriage, and the use of meats, which God hath created. He requires Christians to abstain from all appearance of evil ; (1 Thess. v. 22.) and, with much stronger reason, from every tiling really evil, and contrary to religion and piety.