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On Prayer · III. On Prayer · Chapter XXVI

Of the Parting of Brethren

Page 630 of 661

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 make8932 earthly refreshments prior to heavenly, for your faith will forthwith be judged. Or else how will you—according to the precept8933—say, "Peace to this house," unless you exchange mutual peace with them who are in the house?

Notes

  1. 8931

    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 , amplified by the 45th verse, in a way not unusual with our author.] Perhaps, in addition to the passages in and , to which the editors naturally refer, Tertullian may allude to such passages as ; , . [Christo in pauperibus.]

  2. 8932

    I have followed Routh's conjecture, "feceris" for "fecerit," which Oehler does not even notice.

  3. 8933

    .

Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and A. Cleveland Coxe (1885–96). Public domain. Text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.