Of the Parting of Brethren.

Chapter XXVI.—Of the Parting of Brethren.

You will not dismiss a brother who has entered your house without prayer.—“Have you seen,” says Scripture, “a brother? you have seen your Lord;” ⁸⁹³¹ —especially “a stranger,” lest perhaps he be “an angel.”  But again, when received yourself by brethren, you will not make ⁸⁹³² earthly refreshments prior to heavenly, for your faith will forthwith be judged. Or else how will you—according to the precept ⁸⁹³³ —say, “Peace to this house,” unless you exchange mutual peace with them who are in the house?

Footnotes

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I have ventured to turn the first part of the sentence into a question. What “scripture” this may be, no one knows. [It seems to me a clear reference to Matt. xxv. 38, amplified by the Matt. 25.45, in a way not unusual with our author.] Perhaps, in addition to the passages in Gen. 18:0, Heb. 13:2, to which the editors naturally refer, Tertullian may allude to such passages as Mark 9:37, Matt. 25:40, 45. [Christo in pauperibus.]

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I have followed Routh’s conjecture, “feceris” for “fecerit,” which Oehler does not even notice.

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Luke x. 5.