Receiving A Friend

Si ergo habes me socium, assume illum sicut me. Tantum se affectum habere circa Onesimum ostendit, ut tunc Philemonem, quem superius laudat, participem suum dicat, si istum sic susceperit, sicut Apostolum. Hoc est enim quod dixit Salomon: Servo sapienti liberi servient. Quod dictum terrori est Philemoni, ut saltem vel hac causa assumeret eum, si charitate flecti non posset. Ambrosiaster, In Epistolam Beati Pauli Ad Philomenem Source: Migne PL 17.506a-b

'If, therefore, you have me as a friend, receive him as you would me.' 1  Such affection he shows for Onesimus  that he asks Philemon, whom he praised above, to be a sharer in it, by receiving Onesimus like an Apostle. For it is as Solomon said: 'Free sons shall serve the wise slave.' 2 Which is spoken to trouble  Philemon, that at least for that reason he should receive him, if he is not able to be inclined by love. Ambrosiaster, Commentary On The Epistle of Saint Paul To Philemon 1 Philemon 17 2 Sirach 10.25