He that receiveth you receiveth me. "A man's messenger is as himself" (Mishna, 'Berach.,' Matthew 5:5). Yet, as Bengel says, "Non mode tantundem est, ac si me reciperet.'sed severn me recipit." Ford quotes from Tertullian ('De Orat.
,' § 26), "A brother that hath entered into thine house, dismiss not without prayer. 'Thou hast seen,'saith he, 'thy brother; thou hast seen thy Lord.'" The same legion is found twice in Clem. Alex..
(For an extension of the thought to bishops, cf. Ign., ' Ephesians,' § 6.