Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 54:11

11 Oh thou afflicted, tossed with tempests, and not comforted , behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with saphires .

Oh thou my poor Church, who hast frequently been, and wilt again and again be in a most afflicted and comfortless condition for a time; be not discouraged thereby.

I will make thee exceeding beautiful and glorious. Which yet is not to be understood of outward Pomp and worldly Glory, as is evident from many places of Scripture, which assure us that Christs Kingdom is of another nature, and that the external condition of Gods Church is, and for the most part will be, mean and calamitous in this World, but of a spiritual Beauty and Glory consisting in the plentiful effusion of excellent Gifts, and Graces, and Comforts: although these shall be followed with eternal Glory in Heaven. See the like description of the Churches Glory, Rev. 21. 11, &c.

Marginal references: 1 Chr. 29. 2. Rev. 21. 19.