Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 5:16

16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

We meet with Christ often commending to us the Duty of Secret Prayer, by his own example, as he had done by his precept, Matth. 6. and always chusing for it, the most private and retired places, to teach us to go and to do likewise, often to pray to our Father, which seeth in Secret, and his example more presseth us, because we have much more business with God in Prayer then he had; he had no Sins to confess, nor to beg Pardon for, no need to ask for any sanctifying habits of Grace, &c. It is po[illegible: 1 letter]sible also that he withdrew into desart places oft times, to avoid all shew of O[illegible: 2 letters]entation, or dangers of tumults and to obtain a little rest for himself. But suppose that the reason of his Motion, yet the spending of his leisurable hours, in communion with his Father, is very imitable for us; Christ had no idle hours, he was always either Preaching or healing, thereby doing good to others, or Praying, thereby Paying an homage to God; if it could be said of the Roman, (with respect to his Studies) it should be much more said of Christians. They should never be less alone, then when they are alone▪ nor less idle, then when they are most at leisure from their publick Employments.