Cap. 7 Theologi nostri close: Vorstius critique — Bridegroom/Head/Shepherd intent
What exactly does Vorstius grant us when he allows that not all but some were redeemed by Christ's death in a special reason and peculiar sense, and that Christ is Shepherd of his sheep in a peculiar way as to a special acquisition? If he means only that, in the outcome, by diverse acts of human wills, redemption's fruit reaches some — that is, believers — in a special way, he trifles and never answers the texts brought against him. For He purchased the Church with his blood; He gives salvation to his body; He lays down his life for his sheep; He died to gather God's children — these and like sayings do not mark some special act of the Church, body, or sheep. They mark the Bridegroom's, Head's, and Shepherd's special intention and work toward this Church, this body, these sheep, decreeing and securing their salvation by his death's virtue and merit under a special will.
Latin
Quaero quid hoc sit quod nobis Vorstius largitur, quando dat, non omnes sed aliquos speciali ratione & peculiari sensu fuisse morte Christi redemtos; quando ait Christum esse ovium suarum Pastorem peculiari modo, & quoad specialem quandam acquisitionem. Si nihil aliud vult, quam in ipso eventu, pro diversis actibus voluntatum humanarum, fructum redemtionis ad aliquos, hoc est, ad credentes, speciali & peculiari modo pertinere, nugas agit, & testimoniis contra eum allatis omnino non satisfacit. Nam illa omnia, Ecclesiam acquisivit sanguine suo; Dat salutem corpori suo; Animam ponit pro ovibus suis; Mortuus est ut filios Dei congregaret: haec, inquam, & consimilia, non specialem aliquam operationem Ecclesiae, corporis, ovium designant; sed specialem intentionem & operationem sponsi, Capitis, Pastoris circa hanc Ecclesiam, hoc corpus, hasce oves versantis, & eorundem salutem virtute & merito mortis suae speciali voluntate decernentis & procurantis.