John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 2:7

"so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow." — 2 Corinthians 2:7 (ASV)

Lest such an one should be swallowed up by overmuch sorrow. The purpose of excommunication, regarding its effect on the offender, is this: that, overpowered by a sense of his sin, he might be humbled before God and the Church, and might seek pardon with sincere sorrow for his sin and confession of guilt. The man who has been brought to this state is now more in need of consolation than of severe reproof.

Hence, if you continue to deal with him harshly, it will be — not discipline, but cruel domineering. Hence, we must carefully guard against pushing them beyond this limit.

For nothing is more dangerous than to give Satan a handle to tempt an offender to despair. Indeed, we provide Satan with weapons whenever we leave without consolation those who are genuinely distressed by the awareness of their sin.