Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 4:44

44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

See the Notes on Mark 1.35, 36, 37, 38, 39. where that Evangelist reports the same things, th[illegible: 1 letter]t this Evangelist mentioneth, only with more circumstances, Mark saith, he went out a great while before day into a solitary place to pray. He saith al[illegible: 2 letters] tha[illegible: 1 letter] Simon and others followed him, and found him, and told him, th[illegible: 2 letters] all M[illegible: 1 letter]n sought him. Luke addeth that the others desired hi[illegible: 1 letter] not to depart from thence. They desired his stay, in order to [illegible: 1 word] Miracles, the healing of their Sick, dispossessing Daemoniacks, &c. Christ replied (as Mark saith,) Let us go into the next Towns, that I may Preach there also, for therefore came I forth. Luke saith, he told them, He must Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to other Cities also, for therefore he was sent. Accordingly, (saith Luke,) he did Preach in the Synagogues of Galilee. Mark adds also that he cast out Devil[illegible: 1 letter]. How can any think, that Preaching the Gospel, is not the great Work of the Minister of Christ, but Prayers are to be preferred before it, or administring the Sacraments greater? when it is expressly said, That Christ Baptized none but his Disciples Ioh. 4.2. and Paul saith Christ sent him not to Baptize, but to Preach the Gospel. And Christ omitted opportunities of working Miracles, that he might Preach to other Cities, and only wrought Miracles to con[illegible: 1 letter]irm the Doctrine he Preached; and we so often read, of his going about Preaching and Teaching, never of his Praying, but alone with his Disciples or in a Mountain or solitary place, (tho doubtless he, or some others did pray at their worship in the Synagogues) unless any will be so mad as to think, that the sole end of Preaching, was to convert Men from Iudaism, or Paganism, to an outward owning and profe[illegible: 1 letter]sing of Christ, tho under that profe[illegible: 1 letter]sion, by reason of their sottish ignorance, and debauched lives, they remain twice more the Children of the Devil, then many Iews and Pagans are. What was Christs great Work is certainly his Ministers, viz. to Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.