John Trapp on Zechariah 2:5

Verſe 5. For I, ſaith the Lord, Igneus qui & cominus arceat & eminus terreat. Theodor. will be unto her a wall of fire] The Church (Chriſts garden) may ſeem to lie open to all incurſions and diſadvantages: but as it hath a well within it Cant 4. So it hath a wall without it, yea round about it, better and ſtronger then that about Babylon, or Suſa in Perſia; the ſtones whereof were joyned together with gold, as Caſſiodorus teſtifieth.Lib. 7. Var. Epiſt. The Lacedemonians were forbidden to wall in their city of Sparta: as being ſufficiently fortified by the valour of the inhabitants. The Hollanders will not wall the Hague, though it have 2000 houſholds in it: as deſirous to have it counted rather the principal village of Europe, then a leſſer city. China is ſaid to be ſurrounded with a ſtrong wall of ſtone: and England, with walls of wood, ſc. A puiſſant Navy. But what's all this (either for defence or offence) to a wall of fire? who dare venture to ſcale ſuch a wall? It is not valour but madneſſe to fight with a flame. Fire is terrible to the fierceſt creatures, as Lions, Leopards &c. Shepheards and travellers were uſed to guard themſelves by making great fires round about their night-lodgings, to keep of wild beaſts. Some think the prophet alludeth to that cuſtome: others, to the Angel guarding of Paradiſe with a flaming ſword,Instit: Lib. 2. Cap 13. that is, ſaith Lactantius, with a wall of fire. The Church may ſit and ſing, we have a ſtrong city: ſalvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Eſay 26.1.Heb 1.7, Gen. 32.1. He maketh his Angels ſpirits, his miniſters a flame of fire. Theſe met and miniſtred unto Jacob at Mahanaim making a lane for him, Theſe are the watchmen over the walls of the new Ieru. ſalem, and of the mountains about the ſame. Iſai. 62. as the word importeth. Theſe fiery charets and horſmen appeared, for Eliſha by whole legions 2 Kin. 6.17. and do ſtill pitch their camp round about the godly Pſal. 34.8. Who therefore cannot but be ſafe, as being guarded by the peace of God within them, and by the power of God without them, through faith unto ſalvation.

and will be the glory in the midſt of her.] God is the Churches both bulwark and beauty: her muniment and ornament. His preſence, his worſhip, his Grace, his protection is that tower in the midſt of her Eſay. 5. that golden head of the picture, that tower of the ſlock and ſtrong hold of the daughter of Gods people Mic. 4.8. Hence the Ark is called the glory Rom. 9.4.5. and all comforts without it but Icabods. 1 Sam. 4.20. Hence Judea is called the glorious land: and Heathens are brought in ſaying, Surely this great nation is a wiſe and underſtanding people. For what nation is there ſo great that hath God ſo nigh unto them as the Lord our God is, in all things that we call upon him for? Deut. 4.5, 6, 7 And what nation is there ſo great that hath ſtatutes and [illegible: 1 letter]udgments ſo righteous as all this law &c. Surely as Samſons ſtrength and glory lay in his hair, ſo doth the ſtrength and glory of our land conſiſt in the true religion, and Gods ſincere ſervice: which if it ſhould be ſhaved and deprived of, though every ſhower were a ſhower of gold (ſaith a Divine) every ſtone in the land a pearl, every begger an honourable Senatour, every fool as wiſe as Solomon, every weakling as ſtrong as Samſon; yet our wealth, honour, ſtrength, wiſdom, and glory are gone, and we ſhall ſing a doleful Miſerere with Phineas his wife Ichabod.) The glory of England is gone; for Religion is gone.