The author of an essay on practical piety[85] makes some reflections on the situation of ministers of the gospel, which ought to be attentively considered by them. "There are perils on the right hand and on the left. It is not among the least, that though a pious clergyman may, at first, have tasted with trembling caution of the delicious cup of applause, he may gradually grow, as thirst is increased by indulgence, to drink too deeply of the enchanted chalice. The dangers arising from any thing that is good, are formidable because unsuspected. And such are the perils of popularity, that we will venture to say that the victorious general, who has conquered a kingdom, or the sagacious statesman who has preserved it, is almost in less danger of being spoiled than the popular preacher; because their danger is likely to happen but once, his is perpetual: theirs is only on a day of triumph, his day of triumph occurs every week; we mean, the admiration he excites. Every fresh success ought to be a fresh motive to humiliation: he who feels his danger will vigilantly guard against swallowing too greedily, _the indiscriminate_ and often _undistinguishing_ plaudits, which his _doctrines_, or his _manner_, his _talents_ or his _voice_, may equally procure for him. If he be not prudent as well as pious, he may be brought to humour his audience, and his audience to flatter him with a dangerous emulation, till they will scarcely endure truth itself, from any other lips. The spirit of excessive fondness generates a spirit of controversy. Some of the followers will rather improve in casuistry than in christianity. They will be more busied in opposing Paul to Apollos, than in looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith, than in bringing forth fruits meet for repentance. _Religious gossip_ may assume the place of religion itself. A party spirit is thus generated, and christianity may begin to be considered as a thing to be discussed and disputed, to be heard and talked about, rather than as the productive principle of virtuous conduct." Footnote 85: H. Moore. That this spirit exists in a considerable degree among a portion of the Society of Friends, I think cannot be doubted; and it would indeed be wise in each individual, seriously to scrutinize his own conduct, and consider whether he has been instrumental in generating or propagating it. CONCLUSION. When I first undertook to review some of the prominent features in the sermons alluded to, I did expect to confine my remarks within a narrow compass; but the topics which the author discusses are so various and the applications so numerous, that it unavoidably led to their extension, and I have at last left many untouched which are entitled to very serious consideration.