The same place. — For he said: It may be that my sons have sinned, and have blessed God in their hearts. 13. Concerning another's heart one must not judge rashly. Against rulers of the faithful who know not their works. — He had taught that they were perfect in deed and word, and it was concerning thought alone that the father feared for them. But that we ought not rashly to judge concerning the hearts of others, we recognise in the words of this holy man, who says not: 'Because they have blessed God in their hearts': but, 'It may be that they have blessed God in their hearts.' Whence well it is said by Paul: 'Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts' (1 Cor. iv, 5).
For whosoever in his thought strays from uprightness sins in darkness. We therefore ought so much the less boldly to reprehend the hearts of others, in proportion as we know that by our sight we cannot illuminate the darkness of another's thought. But this is to be carefully observed, with how great severity the father could correct the deeds of the sons, who with so great solicitude strove to cleanse their hearts. What do the rulers of the faithful say to these things, who know not even the open deeds of their disciples? What do they think in their own excuse, who do not even cure the wounds of the actions committed to them? But that the perseverance also of this holy work may be shown, it is rightly subjoined: