never, in all the course of his long life" (for he was a very old man), "enjoyed a few hours so thoroughly as he did that night." He was much astonished, he owned, at the spirituality of William Smith, especially when he considered that he was continually a wayfaring man, and enjoying, as it would seem, so little opportunity of improvement; but he added, that he had seldom seen, so truly humble a man; and he remarked, "that his experience had taught him, that those who are the most humble are always those who make the greatest improvements, insomuch," said he, "that when I hear of an ignorant man, I generally suppose him to be at the bottom a proud one too."

It is now some years since I have heard any thing either of John Day or William Smith; but as they walked in the strength of the Lord, and not in their own strength, I have little doubt but that unto the end they will run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.

THE CHINA-MANUFACTORY.

A CERTAIN gentleman of the name of Osborne was travelling with his family from Ludlow to Malvern, and arriving near the city of Worcester early in the day, he was much delighted with the beautiful prospect which presented itself from the terrace on the opposite rising ground.

This gentleman, who sought information and improvement for his family on every occasion, pointed out to them the Severn rolling under the side of the old walls of the town, and near that venerable and noble cathedral, in which kings and princes of England lie interred: nor did he fail on this occasion to observe what their feelings ought to be in looking upon such monuments of ancient days.

"That cathedral," said he," was the work of the great and powerful of past ages. Immense labour and treasure were expended upon it. It has received many generations under its roof, and may yet stand to receive many more.

"Before the flood," continued Mr. Osborne, " the age of man was equal to the duration of such a mighty building as that which we now behold; but now it is limited to a much shorter period- For the days of man are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth: for the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children."" Psalm ciii., 15-17.

By the time Mr. Osborne had finished this quotation from the Psalms, the coach in which his family travelled was arrived at that part of the road where the way to Malvern separates itself from that to Worcester. Here the young ladies entreated their parents, that, as they had still many hours of the day before them, they might be permitted to drive into Worcester, in order to see one of those beautiful china-manufactories, of which there are several in that city. And the request

being immediately granted, the coachman was ordered to turn his horses in the direction desired.

The beautiful city was now directly before them, and, as they advanced towards it, they obtained a very distinct view of the cathedral; near to which, on the walls of an extensive building, they perceived certain gigantic characters marking one of the first porcelain manufactories in town. Having passed over the bridge, the family requested to be directed to this manufactory and in a short time were conveyed to the gates of an old but very extensive building, in which the works were carried on.

Mr. Osborne and his family were introduced to the conductor of these works, who, after receiving them politely, first led the company into a large room on the ground-floor, where many workmen were engaged in a variety of different operations. But that which immediately drew their attention was a man, who, upon receiving from another a lump of prepared clay, fixed it on a vice turned by a wheel, where, with a swiftness and dexterity which no eye could follow, he fashioned it according to his pleasure in such a manner, that in a few moments the lump under his hand assumed the form of a high or flat cup, an urn, or a vase, or any other circular form which the occasion required.

Mr. Osborne and his family stood contemplating this interesting process for some time; and no doubt that which they saw before them suggested to the whole party some serious and useful thought: but no one undertook to speak till Mr. Osborne thus broke silence. "There is not," said he, "a more striking emblem given us in Scripture of God's absolute dominion over man, or his irresistible power over their hearts, than that which is furnished by the employment of the potter, who does what he pleases with his clay, sometimes making one part of the same lump to honour, and another to dishonour; now forming and then breaking it; now approving and then rejecting it."

Being asked by some one present what were the parts of Scripture which particularly referred to this subject, he took a small Bible out of his pocket, and read these words of the prophet Jeremiah. "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there will I cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house,

and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." Jeremiah, xviii., 1-4.

"These are solemn words, sir," said one.of the company.

"Yes, they are,” replied Mr. Osborne ; "but not more so than those of St. Paul upon the same subject. 'Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory?" Rom., ix., 21—23.

66 This passage, ," continued Mr. Osborne, "contains one of the most awful doctrines of Scripture. It points out, in very plain language, that there are some men who, by abusing the long-suffering of God, become vessels fitted for destruction, and will be finally cast away."

Here this good gentleman, while preparing to follow into another room, added, with a courteous smile, as he looked towards the workman at the wheel, "Thus we may find lessons of wisdom in the most ordinary occupations of life: but much attention and prayer are necessary in order to our profiting by them."

The party were next led into an adjoining apartment, in which the workmen were forming certain vessels in moulds. This work was more slow and less striking than the preceding operation. Here also many ornaments were preparing for those vessels which had already been shaped upon the wheel.

"In this room," said Mr. Osborne, addressing his daughters in a low voice, "I think, my dear girls, we may easily find something strikingly emblematic of the dealings of the Creator with us. As we are vessels of clay, and of finite comprehension, we are seldom allowed to witness the immediate and instantaneous effects of almighty and irresistible power. In compliance with our finite comprehension, the all-wise God generally effects his purposes in our presence by the slow and gradual process of natural influences: but the eye of faith

recognises the same omnipotent power, when working by second causes and through human instrumentality, as it would have recognised had it been present in the beginning, when Jehovah said, Let there be light, and there was light. Thus, for example, in this apartment, is employed one vessel of clay to mould and fashion another, just as one human being is directed and influenced by another: nevertheless, as every vessel in this manufactory is modelled at the pleasure of the potter, although different means are used for effecting his design, so all things are arranged throughout the universe according to the secret disposal of the Mighty Ruler of all things."

The company now descended into the lower parts of the manufactory; where, after witnessing several processes of minor importance, they arrived at a place where several men were employed in mixing the clay of which the porcelain vessels were formed. The young ladies, whose minds were under such a pious influence as induced them to make serious remarks on every thing they saw, here observed to each other, "Surely it would appear little less than incredible to a stranger, that all the beautiful cups and vases produced in this manufactory could be formed of such a mixture as is now before

us."

"There is no stage of the process adopted in this manufactory," said Mr. Osborne, on hearing his daughters' remark," in which I do not feel inclined to run a parallel between the beautiful porcelain here produced, and those vessels of clay in which the human soul is confined. For, however interesting an appearance we wear, dust we are, and unto dust shall we return-an humiliating recollection, which should ever dispose us to say with the prophet Isaiah,' But now, O Lord, thou art our father: we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.'” Isaiah, lxiv., 8, 9.

From this place, which was a large outhouse, the company were led into a small room, where there was a furnace prepared for burning the finer specimens of porcelain. They had before passed by many large furnaces in one immense building; but as none of them were filled or heated, the company had not stopped to observe