2 Maccabees 6:11-13

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

¹¹ And others that had met together in caves that were near, and were keeping the sabbath day privately, being discovered by Philip, were burnt with fire, because they made a conscience to help themselves with their hands, by reason of the religious observance of the day.

¹² Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that they be not shocked at these calamities, but that they consider the things that happened, not as being for the destruction, but for the correction of our nation.

¹³ For it is a token of great goodness when sinners are not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently punished.