The Shepherd of Hermas

These then were being pastured all entangled in the thorns and thistles, and they were very wretched, being beaten by him, and lie was driving them about here and there, and gave them no rest, and those sheep had no happy time at all.

When therefore I saw them thus beaten and miserable I grieved for them that they were being so tormented, and had no rest at all.

I said to the shepherd who was speaking with me: Sir, who is this shepherd who is so pitiless and bitter, and has no compassion at all on these sheep? This, said he, is the angel of punishment. He is one of the righteous angels, but is set over punishment.

Therefore he receives those who have wandered away from God, and walked in the lusts and deceits of this world, and punishes them, as they deserve, with various terrible punishments.

I should like, sir, said I, to know these different punishments, of what kind they are. Hear, said he, the different tortures and punishments. The tortures befall them in this life, for some are punished with loss, others with deprivations, others with divers illnesses, others with all unsettlement, and others are insulted by the unworthy, and suffer many other things.

For many have been unsettled in their