Bible Dictionaries

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

Abstinence

The Scripture sense of both these words hath a very extensive meaning, beyond the mere abstinence of the body. Fasting from food is easily done, and it is to be feared is often done by many, who give unrestrained indulgence to the lusts of the flesh and the mind. The Holy Ghost, by his servants the apostles, hath given them very blessed directions of "abstaining from fleshly lusts which war against the soul: and from the very appearance of evil." (1 Peter 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:22.)