And they—shall build, &c.— The meaning is, (for the whole of this and the preceding verse is metaphorical,) that from the city of God, flourishing in the manner above described, should go forth those who should renew and restore the churches long laid waste, as immersed in thick darkness and superstition, and governed by faithless pastors, and so unworthy, the name of the churches of God; and who should collect together, erect, and build anew the foundations of those churches; that is to say, the heads of Christian doctrine delivered by the prophets and apostles, which, though they had retained them in the confession of their faith, they had mixed with heterogeneous doctrines; so that they might be esteemed as wholly subverted and overthrown. And thou shalt be called, says the prophet, the repairer of the breach, &c. as much as to say, "Thou shalt be truly called, or become a reformed church." See ch. Isaiah 60:14 and compare ch. Isaiah 49:8 and Isaiah 54:3.

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