If she [be] a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she [be] a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
Ver. 9. If she be a wall, we will build upon her, &c.] Christ answers, If she be, as she ought to be, strong and well grounded in the faith, able to bear a good weight laid upon her, as a wall, pillar, and ground of truth, not sinking or fainting under the heaviest burden of these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, but patient and perseverant in the faith unto the death, then will I do all for her that may be done, to make her happy. This speech is somewhat like that of Solomon concerning Adonijah, "If he show himself a worthy man," &c. 1Ki 1:52
We will build upon her a palace of silver.] The whole blessed Trinity will have a hand in building the Church of the Gentiles upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Eph 2:20 God "plants the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, that he may say to Zion, Thou art my people." Isa 51:16 None can come to Christ except God the Father draw him. Joh 6:44 Christ the second person is both "author and finisher of our faith." Heb 12:2 The Holy Ghost is "the same Spirit of faith" in David and Paul, 2Co 4:13 and is received by "the hearing of faith." Gal 3:2 He is "the God of all grace," 2Pe 1:19 antecedent, concomitant, subsequent. We have nothing of which any of us can say, Mihi soli debeo., I am not bound to God for it.
And if she be a door, &c.] As she is "the house of God, and gate of heaven." Gen 28:17 If she will open the "everlasting doors to the King of glory," Psa 24:7 and open "a great door and effectual" to his faithful ministers, 1Co 16:9 who come to "build her for a habitation of God through the Spirit." Eph 2:22 If she open the gates, "that the righteous nation, which keepeth the truth, may enter in," Isa 26:2 then will the Lord Christ "enclose her," board her, and beautify her with fair, sweet, and strong cedars, as with curious and costly wainscot, which shall be monimentum, munimentum, ornamentum, &c. But all this is promised upon the condition that she be a wall and a door, that is, that she receive and retain Christ with her; for otherwise she can claim nothing. He may desert her without breach of covenant, as he did the old Church, and many particular Churches of the New Testament now under the Turk, for their perfidy and apostacy. The Church of Rome, though utterly revolted, yet lays strong claim to Christ still; and concludes, "I sit as a queen, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day. For, strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." Rev 18:7-8 See Trapp on " Rev 18:7 " See Trapp on " Rev 18:8 " About the year of grace 1414, Theodoricus Urias, an Augustine friar in Germany, said that the Church of Rome was, even so long since, become ex aurea argenteam, ex argentea ferream, ex ferrea terream, superesse ut in stercus abiret, a of gold silver, of silver brass, of brass iron, of iron clay. There remains nothing now, but that of clay she become dung, to be swept out of doors with the besom of destruction.
a Jac. Revius, De Vit. Pontif., p. 229.