William Burkitt Notes and Observations - 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - 3:13

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William Burkitt Notes and Observations - 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - 3:13


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Observe here, 1. How far St. Paul was from the censoriousness and uncharitableness of those men who condemn a whole society, a communion, a church in general, for the miscarriages of some particular persons in it. I hear, says he, there are some that walk disorderly, but ye, brethern, are free from these misdemeanors; you are painful in your employments, diligent in your callings, charitable in your distributions: be not weary in these instances of your duty, but persevere in well-doing. When the ministers of Christ reprove the stubborn and disobedient for the neglect of their duty, they forget not to encourage and exhort the faithful and obedient to a persevering diligence in their known duty.

Observe, 2. He directs them how to manage refractory persons, such as remained contumacious and disobedient to the admonitions given by this epistle; continuing disorderly, and refusing to labour; his advice is twofold, he tells them what he would have them not do, and what he would have them do, to such.

1. Negatively, What they should not do; namely, not to cut them off from the church by excommunication, despairing of their repentance and reformation: extreme rigour is offensive to God, and injurious to the church, as well as too much lenity and forbearance.

2. Postively, He exhorts that they consider them as lapsed brethern, and treat them accordingly, as those that desire and endeavour to reduce and reform them, in order to which he directs,

first, to note or mark the disorderly persons; that is, set a note of shame upon them.

Next, to avoid all intimacy and familiarity with them.

Lastly, to admonish them of their duty, that they may be brought, if possible, to repentance.