Works Tertullian (160-220) De oratione

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On Prayer

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;" 1 --especially "a stranger," lest perhaps he be "an angel." But again, when received yourself by brethren, you will not make 2 earthly refreshments prior to heavenly, for your faith will forthwith be judged. Or else how will you--according to the precept 3 --say, "Peace to this house," unless you exchange mutual peace with them who are in the house?

  1. 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 45th verse, in a way not unusual with our author.] Perhaps, in addition to the passages in Gen. xviii. and Heb. xiii. 2, to which the editors naturally refer, Tertullian may allude to such passages as Mark. ix. 37; Matt. xxv. 40, 45. [Christo in pauperibus.] ↩

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

  3. Luke x. 5. ↩

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De l'oraison dominicale

XXVI.

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De l'oraison dominicale
On Prayer
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Einleitung: Kathechteische Schriften (Über die Schauspiele, Über die Idolatrie, über den weiblichen Putz, An die Märtyrer, Zeugnis der Seele, über die Busse, über das Gebet, über die Taufe, gegen die Juden, Aufforderung zur Keuschheit)

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