An Ancient Sermon: Is Reason Master over the Passions? (Part One)
A Little Known Gem Discussing INSPIRED REASON
Among the forgotten books of the bible, even beyond the apocrypha, there is a book known as "The Fourth Book of Maccabees". It is different from the other books of the Maccabees, in that it begins as a philosophical discourse on "reason", then illustrates this attribute with stories that parallel the account recorded in the other books of the Maccabees.
This is an ancient sermon that was transcribed in a scroll for the generations to read and learn from. The sermon was given on the day traditionally remembered as when the unnamed mother watched her children brutally killed in front of her, refusing herself or her children to comply against the will of God.
The author goes through the story of Eleazar and the story of the seven brothers and the mother - all martyrs for the glory of the Most High God - illustrating that inspired reason is master over the passions. Here, I have transcribed the first section of the book, which asks this very question.
Why I Believe This Book Has Been Hidden
The book of fourth Maccabees discusses the concept of "reason" by it's original and pure definition, not according to the definition of our modern age.
Today, "reason" is contrasted with "faith". This is not true at all. But Satan has commandeered the word "reason" and is using it as a form of enlightenment that no longer requires a belief in God, or in any Spirituality at all. They would argue "If there is a war, it stands to REASON, you should choose the side most likely to win." Completely amoral, dismissive of absolute good, and while claiming to be transcendent of the "old religions", it is a purely evil philosophy.
I believe this book has been hidden, because it reveals the TRUE nature of "reason". It begins by asking the question "Is inspired reason the supreme ruler over passions?"
Thus begins the ancient sermon: Is Inspired Reason Master over the Passions?
The Question
The question I propose (that is discussing philosophy in it's highest degree) is whether Inspired Reason is supreme ruler over passions. I would seriously entreat your earnest attention to this philosophical question.
Not only is this subject generally necessary as a branch of knowledge, but it also includes the praise of one of the greatest of all virtues, whereby I mean self-control. That is to say, if reason is proved to control the passions adverse to temperance, gluttony and lust, it is also clearly shown to be master over the passions, like malevolence (which is opposed to justice), and over brute emotions such as rage and pain and fear.
But some may ask "If reason is the master of passions, why does it not control forgetfulness and ignorance?" Their object being to cast ridicule. The answer is that Reason is not the master over defects inhering in the mind itself, but over the passions or moral defects that are adverse to justice and manliness and temperance and judgement and its action in their case is not to extirpate (or uproot) the passions, but to enable us to resist them successfully.
I could bring before you many examples, drawn from various sources, where Reason has proved itself master over the passions, but the best instance by far that I can give is the noble conduct of those who died for the sake of virtue, Eleazar and the seven brethren and the mother. For these all by their contempt of pains, yea, even unto their death, proved that Reason rises superior to the passions.
I might enlarge here in praise of their virtues, they, the men with the mother, dying on this day we celebrate for the love of moral beauty and goodness, but rather I would congratulate them on the honors they have attained. For the admiration felt for their courage and endurance, not only by the world at large but by their very executioners, made them the authors of the downfall of the tyranny under which our nation lay, they defeating the tyrant by their endurance so that through them was their country purified.
This concludes part one of the Ancient Sermon: Is Reason Master over the Passions?
Bless the Most High!
Teach Your Children Liberty from Sin
We encourage parents to teach their children principles of Godliness, beginning with the Word and an understanding who God is and what His Son has done to form a relationship with us.
No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
Teach Your children Liberty from Tyranny
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