Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, Exposition · Chapter 3 · Verse 11, 12
VERS. 11, 12.
For we heare that there are ſome among you which walke diſorderly, not working at all, but are buſie-bodies.
Now them that are ſuch, we command and exhort by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that with quietnes they work and eate their owne bread.
THE paſſage to this member ſeemes thus. The Apoſtle willingly preoccupates what he ſaw likely to be demanded: whereto tends, what meanes, or occaſions all this earneſt vrging vponupon vsus, cenſure of the inordinate? Reſp. Maruell not at it: for we heare, notwithſtanding our foremonition, that there are ſtill among you, who walke diſorderly, &c.
Particulars in the Text are, 1. The crime charged vponupon them; diſorderly walking; ſpecified for euidence to bee; 1. Not working at all. 2. and which vſually accompanies neglect of our owne buſineſſe, buſie medling with what concernes vsus not. 2. The euidence, on which he proceedes to charge them; heare-ſay. 3. Preſcript and vrging to amendment, ver. 13.
For we heare there are ſome among you, &c. May a Miniſter or Church Magiſtrate proceede vponupon hereſie to taxe crimes in the people? With what cautions? In what manner? Reſp. So did Paul more then one. See 1 Cor. 1.10. & 11.18. With what Caution? 1. His informers were fide digni, ſuch as had wonne to themſelues opinion, and halfe renowne of ſanctitie in the Church. See 1 Cor. 1.11. Its vnſafe, fooliſh to belieue eueryevery thing, eueryevery man; eſpecially where the blemiſh redounds to the whole Congregation; there are xHoſh. 4.8.that liue on the ſinnes of the people; delight in the infamy of the Church. 2. Prudently they carried their information: making choiſe of Paul, in whom was Authority to correct and reforme the things amiſſe: a good euidence they ſought amendment, not ſhame of the delinquents 3. Charitable they ſhew themſelues in relating the Crime: It was Schiſmes, 1 Cor. 11.18. their ſtile is foreign,y1 Cor. 1.11. Contentions; a leſſe euill: charitie loues not to thinke, or make the worſt of other euills.
2. His Modus in proceeding: 1. Hee chargeth not the crime vponupon the whole Church; he ſaith not all, nor moſt of you; but foreign ſome among you; loquitur quàm ſieri poteſt parciſſimè. 2. Particularizeth no man, but ſpeakes indefinitely; ſome, whither to occaſion the Church to obſerue all; or rather to aduantage the delinquents to amend their amiſſe, before that from Pauls mouth they ſhould know their owne names.
3. Though he order them to cenſure, vponupon Hypotheſis of their incorrigiblenes; yet firſt with greateſt grauity, meekneſſe and louelove he nouriſheth them, ſelfely to correct their errors.
Ʋſe I could wiſh them that in this reſpect make Apoſtles their patternes, to heed alſo their cautions; ſo to follow their practiſe that they obſerue their Modus.
2. The Crime generall is, walking diſorderly: whereof See ver. 6. Item Annotata ad 1 Theſ. 5.14. Specified it is in two particulars. 1. Not working according to the iniunction; whereof See ver. 10. 2 Curioſity, the Natiue fruit of Idlenes: ſo Paul notes it, 1 Tim 5.13. making it muliebre vitium. But who maruels to ſee Idlers become effeminate? How doth it euirate, vn-man men? and bring vponupon them mollitiem no leſſe then womaniſh?
Properties of it thus number. 1. Buſie inquiſition into eueryevery mans ſecreteſt actions. 2.z1 Pet. 4.15. Putting the finger into eueryevery mans buſineſſe. 3. Wherefore vſually, they are the fire-brands of contention, and vnneighbourly quarrels. 4. Trifling tatlers aboue meaſure, 1 Tim. 5.13. 5 Secretaries after the rate of Apoſtles; what you tell them in ſecret they publiſh on the houſe tops, and in the Market-place. Caetera vide apud Plutarchum, in moralibus.
Its morbus Epidemicus: how may we ſtop, or hope to cure it? While wiſe men cheriſh it in themſelues, and are hardly brought to notice it as a fault: And yet Saint Peter giuesa1 Pet. 4.15. Caueat againſt it, as ſtrict, as againſt theft, murther or other maleficia; not as if it were equall to them in the kinde of euill, but perhaps becauſe it ſo eaſily inſinuates it ſelfe, ſo pleaſingly creepes vponupon vsus, that but with ſtricteſt caution we keepe it not out.
1. Tantúmne abs re tua otij eſt, aliena vt cures, & quae ad te nihil attinent? Who ſo mindes his owne taske ſo large as it is, to heed his owne waies, to ſee to thoſe of his owne houſehold, to know his owne ſinnes, to mend his own life, ſindes remedie againſt it.
2. Others euills hurt vsus not.bGal. 6.5. EueryEvery man beares his owne burthen: is countable forcRom. 14.12. himſelfe vntounto God.
3. Note it euer to heare ill in Scripture; taxed as Hypocritae vitium, dMat. 7.3.why ſeeſt thou, &c.
4. Drawes with it too foule neglect of our ſelues, till wee bee ouergrowne in iniquitie, Mat. 7.4, 5.
5. Layes open to like curioſity, and vncharitable cenſure of other men.
6. Occaſions God himſelfe to be the extremer in marking what we doe amiſſe, See Mat. 7.2.