Called vs chosen; baptism reluctance; Reuben firstborn not free

to choose the things upon the earth, yet barely caring for few of the necessary things, and not making God’s things in eagerness. ‘For many,’ he says, ‘are called, yet few chosen.’ Those therefore finishing among the called through the faith, yet not still numbered with the chosen ones, because of being let loose toward the pleasant, are sometimes slow and very reluctant, and perhaps even around the grace of the holy baptism itself; and they have shuddered at enduring the toils fitting saints on behalf of God’s good-repute and their own benefit, and being persecuted together with the genuine ones, even if a time should lead toward this; yet the divine law reproaching them, and the divine anger sometimes startling them, they go reluctantly upon the saving baptism, and share toils with the chosen ones, either fasting together more moderately, or also sometimes being zealous together for the Churches being warred upon, yet not still also being persuaded to despise the things in the world, but as it were slipping back to an own lot portioned out to them—the pleasures and delights upon the earthly things. On account of this Christ was saying to the lovers of rightness, and those having been very eager to be pious: ‘Take heed, lest ever your hearts be weighed down with cares and worries of life.’ Or do you not say the matter is harmful, friend?

Palladius: I say so; for how not?

Cyril: And casting a thin eye of mind into what has been written, you would very well wonder at the beauty of the image.

Palladius: In what manner?

Cyril: Those who for the sake of cattle-feeding of children and wives, of folds and buildings, have received the reluctance upon the best things, are Reuben and Gad.

Palladius: And what then is this?

Cyril: For the one was firstborn from Jacob, yet the other sprang from the maidservant Zilpah.

Palladius: True.

Cyril: Therefore firstborn through the faith are the called, and having obtained beside God the exceptional lot, as far as concerns the grace, yet not freedom-loving, because of the inclination unto the more shameful things; and we say that a church of firstborn ones registered in heavens has been named the ones justified in faith. Yet the firstborn is not freedom-loving, but rather a partner and fellow-lover with those who have not fled the shame of slavery.

Palladius: You have spoken most excellently.

Cyril: Yet already of my word going toward a shore, and as it were somewhere making the castings-out of the persuasions, it comes upon me to say and to remind again, that one must play the man toward every thing whatever finishing unto benefit, and lead the toils as a training unto virtue, and be disposed not otherwise than that God the one saving