For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the L ORD our God I will seek thy good. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the welfare of it, for all good to it, particularly for the uniting of the inhabitants among themselves and their preservation from the incursions of enemies. The peace and welfare of the gospel church, particularly in our land, is to be earnestly desired and prayed for by every one of us. Those shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls.
For all the inhabitants in general, all within the walls, from the least to the greatest. The poorer sort are apt to envy the prosperity of the palaces, but they are here taught to pray for it. He resolves that whatever others do he will approve himself a faithful friend to Jerusalem, 1. Whatever lies within the sphere of our activity to do for the public good we must do it, else we are not sincere in praying for it. Then our concern for the public welfare is right when it is the effect of a sincere love to God's institutions and his faithful worshippers.