Of command, to work quietly, and eat his own bread, now signified \u201cby this epistle\u201d, particularly in (2 Thessalonians 3:12),<\/p>\n
Some read this clause in connection with the preceding phrase, \u201cby this epistle\u201d, or by an epistle; and so the Ethiopic version, \u201cshow\u201d, or \u201csignify him by an epistle\u201d; that is, give us notice of it by an epistle, that we may take him under our cognizance, and severely chastise him, according to the power and authority given us by Christ; but that phrase rather belongs to the preceding words: and the clause here respects the notice the church should take of such a person; not in a private way, or merely by way of admonition and reproof, such as is given before rejection from communion; but by the black mark of excommunication; lay him under censure, exclude him from your communion, put a brand upon him as a scabbed sheep, and separate him from the flock; and so the Syriac version renders it, \u00e7rpty, \u201clet him be separated from you\u201d and this sense is confirmed by what follows,<\/p>\n
As little as can be in common and civil conversation, lest he should take encouragement from thence to continue in his sin, and lest others should think it is connived at; and much less at the Lord’s table, or in a sacred and religious conversation, or in a way of church fellowship and communion:<\/p>\n
That he may have his eyes turned in him, as the word signifies, and he may be brought to a sight and sense of his sin, and be filled with shame for it, and loath it, and himself on the account of it, and truly repent of it, and forsake it; and this is the end of excommunication, at least one end, and a principal end of it, to recover persons out of the snare of the devil, and return them from the error of their ways: so the Jews say, \u201cin matters of heaven (of God or religion), if a man does not return privately, \u02c6ymylkm, they \u201cput him to shame\u201d publicly; and publish his sin, and reproach him to his face, and despise and set him at nought until he returns to do well.\u201d<\/p>\n