Letter 147: Since you have written asking for an explanation of the passage, I will answer briefly.

Many are called, but few are chosen. The calling is universal, but the choosing depends upon the response. God extends his invitation to all; it is we who determine, by our acceptance or refusal, whether we will be among the elect. The fault of exclusion lies not with the one who calls but with the one who declines to answer.

PMZ. - ΘΩΜΑ ΜΟΝΑΖΟΝΤΙ. Εἱ μὲν ἀγνοῶν Εὐσέβιος ἐχειροτόνησεν αὐτοὺς, ἔξει μετρίαν ἀπολογίαν ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ· εἰ δὲ, ὡς φῆς, μάλα ἀκριβῶς ἐπιστάμενος, λύκοις μὲν διὰ τὰς ἁρπαγὰς, κυσὶ δὲ διὰ τὰς λαγνείας, ἀλώπεξι δὲ διὰ τὴν κακουργίαν παραδέδωκε τὸ ποίμνιον (ὑπὲρ οὗ καὶ τὸ τίμιον αὐτοῦ αἷμα ἐξέχεεν ὁ Χριστός) · πάσης άπο- λογίας ἥμαρτε μείζονα. Ταῦτα δὲ φημι, οὐχ ὡς ἐκείνων ἀνευθύνων ἑσομένων, καὶ δίκας μὴ ἀπαιτηθη- σομένων, ἀλλ' ὡς τοῦ τὰ σπέρματα τῶν ἁμαρτη- μάτων παρασχόντος, μειζόνως κολασθησομένου. Ὁ γὰρ τὴν αἰτίαν διδοὺς, τῶν ἐκβαινόντων αἴτιος καθα έστηκεν. LETTER NUMBER 147 ΡΟΔ΄. – ΚΟΜΙΤΙ Μακρὰν εἶναι δεῖ τοῦ ἐγκαλεῖν.