After talking with him for a while about his mother and family, the gentleman asked him if it did not make him unhappy to think of being blind. For a moment, he looked sad; then he smiled, and said: “Sometimes I think it hard to have to creep about so. I should so like to look at the bright sun that warms me; and the sweet birds that sing for me; and the beautiful flowers that feel so soft as I touch them. But God made me blind, and I know that it is best for me. I am glad that he did not make me deaf and dumb, too. I am glad that he gave me such a good mother. But, above all, I am so glad that he has taught me to know and love the blessed Saviour; for I find it such a help and comfort to think about him.” “And how does the Saviour help you?” “Oh, sir, I pray to him; and then I seem to hear him say, ‘I forgive you Robert; I love you, poor, blind boy! I will take away your evil heart and give you a new one!’ And then I feel so happy; it seems to me as if I could almost hear the angels singing up in heaven.” “I am glad to hear this, Robert. And do you ever expect to see the angels?” “Oh, yes, sir! When I die, my spirit will not be blind. _It is only my clay house that has no windows._ I can see with my mind now; and that, mother tells me, is the way they see in heaven. I heard mother reading in the Bible the other day, where it tells about heaven, and it said there is ‘no night there.’ But _here_, it is night to blind people all the time. Oh! sir, when I feel bad because I can’t see, I think of Jesus and heaven, and that helps and comforts me.” This is a beautiful illustration of this part of the work of the Holy Spirit. It shows us how the Spirit helps and comforts us. It is by testifying of Jesus, or by teaching us to know what a precious Saviour he is and what glorious things he does for those who love him. And now we have considered the three things about the coming of the Holy Spirit, mentioned at the beginning of this chapter. We have spoken of the _time_ of his coming—on the day of Pentecost; the _manner_ of his coming—_expected_—_sudden_—_startling_—and _abiding_; and we have spoken of the _purpose_ of his coming; this led us to show _what the Spirit is_—he is a divine Person—one of the three Persons in the blessed Trinity; and _what the Spirit does_. His work is to _convert_—to _teach_—to _sanctify_, or make holy,—and _help and comfort_ all the people of Christ. Jesus left the great work to be done for his church, and by his church, in good hands, when he left it with the Holy Spirit. Let us pray God to give us a larger measure of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our hearts, and then we shall be holy and useful and happy! THE APOSTLE PETER