Pursuing The Good

Rogamus vero vos, fratres, corripite inquietos, consolamini pusillanimes, opitulamini infirmis, patientes estote ad omnes. Videte ne quis malum pro malo alicui reddat: sed semper quod bonum est sectamini et in invicem, et in omnes. Semper gaudete in Domino, sine intermissione orate, in omnibus gratias agite. Haec est enim voluntas Dei in Christo Jesu in omnibus vobis. Quoniam necesse est quosdam in plebe esse immodestos, quosdam autem pusillanimes, hoc est, timidos, quosdam vero fide infirmos; ideoque hos qui moderati sunt et magnanimes, et fide fundati, hortatur cum prece, ut his consulant, ut possint proficere, sufferentes eos; ne si retributio fit malorum, pejores se fiant. Idcirco nihil aliud quam bonum sectandum hortatur non solum in causa fratrum, sed in omnium. Possunt enim bonis operibus attrahi infideles ad credulitatem, ex qua semper gaudeatur in Domino, hoc est, in bonum. Orandum autem sine intermissione; sedulae enim preces provocant animum judicis ad dandam misericordiam. In omnibus vero actibus bonis Deo gratias agendas, qui hanc tribuit doctrinam in Christo Jesu Domino nostro. Ambrosiaster, In Epistolam ad Thessalonicenses Primam Caput V Source: Migne PL 17.452b-c

We beseech you, brothers, that you correct the disorderly, comfort the faint hearted, aid the weak, and be patient with all. Take care that you do not return to anyone evil for evil, but always pursue what is good for one another, and for all. Rejoice in the Lord always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks. For this is the wish of God in Christ Jesus for all of you. 1 Because it is necessary that some among the people will be impudent and some faint hearted, that is, timid, and some weak in faith, therefore with a petition he exhorts those who are moderate and great souled and firmly established in faith to counsel them for their improvement, being patient with them, lest if there is a returning of evils they be made worse. Therefore nothing but what is good must be sought, he exhorts, not only among the affairs of brothers, but among all. For the faithless can be drawn to belief by good works, by which there shall always be rejoicing in the Lord, that is, for the good. But one must pray without ceasing, for diligent prayer provokes the soul to mercy in judgement. And in all deeds let thanks be given to God, who gave this teaching in Jesus Christ our Lord. Ambrosiaster, Commentary On The First Letter of Saint Paul To The Thessalonians, Chapter 5 1 1 Thes 5.14-17