4 Maccabees 3:16-21

16 Therefore, opposing reason to desire, he poured out the drink as an offering to God.

17 For the temperate mind can conquer the drives of the emotions and quench the flames of frenzied desires;

18 it can overthrow bodily agonies even when they are extreme, and by nobility of reason spurn all domination by the emotions.

19 The present occasion now invites us to a narrative demonstration of temperate reason.

20 At a time when our ancestors were enjoying profound peace because of their observance of the law and were prospering, so that even Seleucus Nicanor, king of Asia, had both appropriated money to them for the temple service and recognized their commonwealth—

21 just at that time certain persons attempted a revolution against the public harmony and caused many and various disasters.