John Trapp on 2 Thessalonians 3

CHAP. III. Verſe 1. Finally, Brethren, &c.]

QƲod ſupereſt: [non-Latin text not transcribed]. That which yet remains, brethren. Miniſters have never done, but have ſomewhat more to ſay (Redit labor actus in orbem) when they have ſaid their utmoſt.

Pray for us] As he had done for them, Chap. 2.16, 17. See the like, 1 Theſſ. 5.23, 25. with the Notes. O pray (ſaid a dying Dutch Divine) that God would preſerve the Goſpel: Pontifex enim Rom[illegible: 1 letter] & Concilium Tridentinum mira moliuntur: For the Pope and his Trent conventicle are plotting ſtrange buſineſſes.

May have free courſe] Gr. May run its race, as the Sun doth, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 3. Pſal. 19. Euſebius ſaith that the Goſpel ſpred at firſt through the world, like a Sun-beam.

And be glorified] As it was Act. 13.48. The word never worketh, till it be received with admiration.

Verſe 2. From unreaſonable] Men compact of meer incongruities, ſolaeciſing in opinion, ſpeeches, actions, all. [non-Latin text not transcribed].

For all men have not faith] And are therefore unreaſonable: nothing is more irrationall then irreligion. An unbeliever is no better (but in ſome reſpects worſe) then a beaſt: A brutiſh perſon skilfull to destroy, Ezek. 21.31.

Verſe 3. But God is faithfull] Though men be faithleſſe: and though they be evil, as verſ. 2. yet he ſhall keep you from evil, from whatſoever adverſe power either of men or devils. Thus the Saints may finde and fetch comfort from God under whatſoever diſaſters. They go alwaies under a double guard, the peace of God within them, Phil. 4.7. and the power of God without them, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. 1 Pet. 1.5. How then can they poſſibly miſcarry?

Verſe 4. That ye both do, and will do] Qui monet ut facia[illegible: 1 letter] quod jam facis, ille monendo laudat, &c. Here the Apoſtle, Oratour-like, entereth their boſoms: and by praiſing their preſent obedience, artificially wreſteth from them a redoubled diligence. Virtus laudata creſcit. Thus being crafty he catcheth them with guile, as he did thoſe Corinthians, 2 ep. 13.16. It muſt be an elaborate diſcourſe that ſhall work upon the heart.

Verſe 5. And the Lord direct] Or rectifie your crooked hearts, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. and diſtorted affections, that ſtand a-croſſe to all good, till God ſet them to rights. Mens perſwaſions are but as a key to a lock, thats out of order, unleſſe God cooperate.

Verſe 6. Now we command you] To ſhew how hardly we are divided from evil company, as loth to depart as Lots wife out of Sodome, Vel ut canis famelicus ab uncto corio.

That ye withdraw your ſelves] That ye ſhun them as ſtudiouſly as the ſea man doth a rock or ſhelf. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Nautarum prop[illegible: 1 letter]ium. Nihil agendo male agere diſcimus [non-Latin text not transcribed].

Verſe 7. For your ſelves know] You idle addle-heads, verſ. 11. For to theſe he here directs his ſpeech, that by doing nothing had learned at length to do naughtily.

We behaved not our ſelves diſorderly] Gr. We brake not our ranks, as unruly ſouldiers.

Verſe 8. any mans bread for nought] But earnd it before we eat it. Bread ſhould not be eaten, till it ſweat in a mans hand, or head.Chryſoſt.

Verſe 9. Not becauſe we have not power] Poſſe & nolle nobile est. See the Notes no 1 Cor. 9.4.6, 7, 11, &c.

But to make our ſelves an example] Thoſe therefore that have enough to live on, muſt yet be doing ſomething whereby the world may be the better: and not think to come hither meerly as rats and mice, only to devour victuals, and to run ſqueaking up and down, Theſe are Cyphers, or rather excrements in humane ſociety. By the law of Mahomet, the great Turk himſelf is bound to exerciſe ſome manuall trade or occupation (for none muſt be idle) as Solyman the Magnificent,Peacham. that ſo threatned Vienna, his trade was making of arrow-heads, Achmat the laſt horn-rings for Archers.

Verſe 10.Gen. 3. That if any would not work] In the ſweat of thy noſe ſhalt thou eat thy bread, was the old ſanction: Yea Paradiſe, that was mans ſtore-houſe, was alſo his work-houſe. They bury themſelves alive, that, as body-lice, live on other mens labours: and it is a ſin to ſuccour them. Seneca profeſſed, That he had rather be ſick in his bed then out of imploiment.

Verſe 11. Working not at all] But making religion a mask for idleneſſe: whoſe whole life is to eat, and drink, and ſleep, and ſport, and ſit, and talk, and laugh themſelves fat. Theſe are an odious ſort of Chriſtians; a kinde of vagrant people, that having little to do, are ſet a work by the devil: for idleneſſe is the hour of temptation. Standing pools are full of vermine. Behemoth lieth in the fens, Job 40.21.

Verſe 12. That with quietneſſe] Being no medler in other mens matters, but minding his own. Res tuas age. The pragmaticall perſon is an odious perſon, and the place where he lives longs for a vomit to ſpue him out. See the Note on 1 Theſſ. 4.11.

Verſe 13. Be not weary in well-doing] No, not to thoſe diſorderly (and therefore leſſe worthy) walkers, if in extreme neceſſity, or if thereby ye may win them from the errour of their way. As if any prove refractary and irreformable.

Note that man] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Or, Notice him, as infamous: brand him, beware of him; let him ſee a ſtrangenes in you toward him.

That he may be aſhamed] [non-Latin text not transcribed] Ʋt quae[illegible: 1 letter]a[illegible: 1 letter] ubi ſe poſſit prae pudore occulta[illegible: 1 letter]e. Cameron. Gr. That he may turn into himſelf, or turn ſhort again upon himſelf: recognize his diſorders, and return to a better courſe. The repenting Prodigall is ſaid to come to himſelf, Luk. 15.17. and thoſe relenting Iſraelites to bethink themſelves, or to bring back to their hearts, 1 King. 8 47.

Verſe 15. Yet count him not, &c. If there be but aliquid Chriſti, any thing of Chriſt to be diſcerned in him.

But admoniſh him as a brother] Conſcience is a nice and ſullen dame, man a croſſe, crabbed creature, and will hardly be wrought upon by a Stoicall ſowrneſſe, or an imperious boiſterouſneſſe: but muſt be gently handled, and fairly admoniſhed. Gentle ſhowrs comfort the earth, when daſhing ſtorms drown the ſeed.

Verſe 16. Now the Lord, &c.] He begins, continues and concludes with fervent praier. All our Sacrifices ſhould be ſalted with this ſalt, perfumed with this incenſe of praier Coloſ. 3.17.

The Lord be with you all] Thus he poureth out his affection, by prayer upon prayer for them. A ſweet cloſing up!

Verſe 17, 18. So I write, The grace, &c.] This is that Saint Paul would have every of his Ep[illegible: 1 letter]ſtles ſtamped with his own hand, viz. praier for all his people.