In the same place. — For they had made an appointment together to come to visit him and to comfort him. Heretics agree together against the Church. They can be called friends. — The heretics make an appointment among themselves when they concordantly hold certain perverse things against the Church; and in the very matters in which they disagree from the truth, they agree with one another in falsehood. But all who instruct us concerning eternity, what else do they do but comfort us in the affliction of our pilgrimage? The heretics, however, because they desire to teach holy Church their own doctrines, draw near to her as though comforting her. Nor is it wonderful that those who express the likeness of adversaries are named friends, since even to the very betrayer it is said: Friend, wherefore art thou come? (Matt. xxvi, 50)
and the rich man, who is burned in the fire of hell, is called 'son' by Abraham (Luke xvi, 25); because, even though the wicked neglect to be corrected by us, it is nevertheless fitting that they be named friends by us, not out of their own wickedness, but out of our kindness.