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?

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Footnotes:

[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 Matthew 25:38, amplified by the 45th verse, in a way not unusual with our author.] Perhaps, in addition to the passages in Genesis 18.and Hebrews 13:2, to which the editors naturally refer, Tertullian may allude to such passages as Mark 9:37; Matthew 25:40, 45. [Christo in pauperibus.]

[8932] I have followed Routh's conjecture, "feceris" for "fecerit," which Oehler does not even notice.

[8933] Luke 10:5.