Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 10:20

20 For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Mark hath much the same, ch. 13.11. so hath Luke. ch. 12.11, 12. The Apostles being Men but of an ordinary Education, before Christ called them, he might reasonably suppose, that they would not appear before Councils, and Kings, and Governours without some Abashment, having not been accustomed to such Presences; he therefore arms them in these words, wherein he doth not prohibit ordinary Thoughts, which every man hath before he speaketh, but anxious Thoughts aforehand, for saith he, it shall be given you in that hour, what you shall speak. The Lord seemeth to speak here, as he did to Moses, Exod. 4.12. complaining he was of a slow Speech, and of a slow Tongue, v. 11. Who hath made Mans mouth? It shall, saith Christ, be given you from God. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you: That is, not you, from your selves only: The Holy Spirit shall influence your Thoughts as to the Matter, and suggest that to you, and it shall in[illegible: 1 letter]luence your Tongues, giving you a Freedom of Speech. This was verified in Stephen, Acts 6.10. and hath been eminently verified in a multitude of Martyrs, We may observe from hence, That the influence of the Spirit is not to be confined to the Will and Affections. It hath also an influence upon our words in the Service of God; not that we can conclude, that whatsoever Christians so speak, either, in their Confessions or other Duties, is from such immediate Assistance, but there is such an influence, tho the Spirit in this, as in other Operations, like the wind bloweth where and when it listeth.