1 If then, the seven brethren despised troubles even to death, it is confessed on all sides that righteous reasoning is absolute master over the passions.
2 For just as if, had they as slaves to the passions, eaten of the unholy, we should have said that they had been conquered by the;
3 now it is not so: but by means of the reasoning which is praised by God, they mastered their passions.
4 And it is impossible to overlook the leadership of reflection: for it gained the victory over both passions and troubles.
5 How, then, can we avoid according to these men mastery of passion through right reasoning, since they drew not back from the pains of fire?