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so, Eleazar, the descendant of Aaron, wasted away by the fire, did not give up his reasoning.
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And, what is most wonderful, though an old man, though the labours of his body were now spent, and his fibres were relaxed, and his sinews worn out, he recovered youth.
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By the spirit of reasoning, and the reasoning of Isaac, he rendered powerless the many-headed instrument.
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O blessed old age, and reverend hoar head, and life obedient to the law, which the faithful seal of death perfected.
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If, then, an old man, through religion, despised tortures even unto death, confessedly religious reasoning is ruler of the passions.
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But perhaps some might say, It is not all who conquer passions, as all do not possess wise reasoning.
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But they who have meditated upon religion with their whole heart, these alone can master the passions of the flesh;
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they who believe that to God they die not; for, as our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, they live to God.
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This circumstance, then, is by no means an objection, that some who have weak reasoning, are governed by their passions:
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since what person, walking religiously by the whole rule of philosophy, and believing in God,
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and knowing that it is a blessed thing to endure all kinds of hardships for virtue, would not, for the sake of religion, master his passion?