The World Hears Them

Et mundus eos audit. Quia spiritualium corda ad mundanos carnalesque sensus revocare a fidei simplicitate non valent. Sed et catholici quicunque audientes illam Domini sententiam: Diligite inimicos vestros, benefacite his qui oderunt vos, et orate pro persequentibus et calumniatibus vos; et iterum: Si dimiseritis hominibus peccata eorum, dimittet et vobis Pater vester coelestis delicta vestra, si non dimiseritis hominibus, nec Pater vester dimittet vobis peccata vestra, dicunt se nullatenus suas injurias posse dimittere inultas: hi nimirum de mundo esse, et ideo de mundo loqui convincuntur. Et quia charitatis viscera non habent, frustra fidei intemerata mysteria servant. Sed nec Antichristi nomine possunt carere, qui Christi mandatis probantur adversari. Sanctus Beda, In Primam Epistolam Sancti Joannis, Caput IV Source: Migne PL 93.107b-c

And the world hears them. 1  Since spiritual hearts are not able to be called away from the simplicity of faith to mundane and carnal things. But even Catholics hearing that teaching of the Lord: 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and pray for your persecutors and those who calumniate you'; 2 and again, 'If you forgive men their sins, your Father in heaven shall forgive you yours and if you do not forgive men, nor shall your Father forgive you your sins,' 3 who then say to themselves that not all injuries can be forgiven without punishment, these are without doubt from the world, and therefore they are convicted of speaking from the world. And because they do not have the depths of charity, vainly do they observe the pure mysteries of the faith. For they are not able to be cleared of the name of Antichrist, who are proved to be enemies of the commandments of Christ. Saint Bede, from the Commentary On The First Letter of Saint John, Chap 4 1 1 Jn 4.5 2 Mt 5.44 3 Mt 6.14-15