All of these, by despising sufferings that bring death, demonstrated that reason controls the passions.

but it teaches us self-control, so that we master all pleasures and desires, and it also trains us in courage, so that we endure any suffering willingly;

Such should be those who are administrators of the law, shielding it with their own blood and noble sweat in sufferings even to death.

and knows that it is blessed to endure any suffering for the sake of virtue would not be able to overcome the passions through godliness?

For we, through this severe suffering and endurance, shall have the prizes of virtue and shall be with God, on whose account we suffer;

“We, most abominable tyrant, are suffering because of our godly training and virtue,

he said, “Tyrant, they are splendid favors that you grant us against your will, because through these noble sufferings you give us an opportunity to show our endurance for the law.”

While being tortured he said, “O contest befitting holiness, in which so many of us brothers have been summoned to an arena of sufferings for the sake of piety and in which we have not been defeated!

Reason’s Sovereignty in the Seven

Since, then, the seven brothers despised sufferings even unto death, everyone must concede that pious reason is sovereign over the passions.

Even now, we ourselves shudder as we hear of the suffering of these young men; they not only saw what was happening, not only heard the direct word of threat, but also bore the sufferings steadfastly, and in agonies of fire at that.

and therefore you ought to endure every suffering for the sake of God.

knowing that pious reason is master of the passions, not only of sufferings from within but also of those from without.

Therefore those who gave over their bodies in suffering for the sake of piety were not only admired by mortals but also were deemed worthy to share in a divine inheritance.