Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Corinthians 2:7

7 So that contrariwise, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him , lest perhaps such a one should be swallo[illegible: 3 letters] up with overmuch sorrow .

Forgi[illegible: 4 letters]ss in this place doth not signifie the taking away, or [illegible: 1 word] of the guilt of sin, (that i[illegible: 1 letter] Gods work, not mans) but remitt[illegible: 2 letters]g of the punishment. And [illegible: 1 letter]his maketh that probable, That they had not as yet proceeded with this person to Excommunication; only kept him (like a suspected Leper, without the Camp) out of a Communion with the Church: Or if they had actually cast him out, forgiving here can signifie nothing, but restoring him again to a full Communion with them; which is also the comforting which is here mentioned.

It is plain from hence, That the Apostle had intelligence, that this person expressed abundant sorrow; otherwise he would not have expressed his fear of his being drowned in his own tears. Though the condition of such, at this day, is sad enough, who are regularly cast out of the Communion of any true Church of Christ, for crimes which deserve such a punishment; yet we must imagine it much sadder then. Now Churches are multiplied, whole Cities and Nations are Christianized; and though a person be cast out of a Church, yet it is not so taken notice of, but he may yet have converse with other Christians, &c. but there, the greater part of the City being Heathens▪ and the whole Countries of Achaia and Greece (contiguous to it) being Heathens; one cast out of the Communion of the Church, (if he had the least sense of Religion) could not but be deeply afflicted to be in such a case, as none but Heathens and professed Idolaters would keep him company, or have any intimacy with him.