The Great Necessity and Advantage of Publick Prayer and Frequent Communion. Designed to Revive Primitive Piety

London: Printed by E.P. for R. Smith, 1708. First edition. Leather Bound. Very Good. 4 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. 8vo. 8 pages + 109 numbered pages (Publick Prayer) + 149 numbered pages with separate title page (Communion) + 3 leaf catalogue of books printed for Richard Smith. With the engraved portrait of the author. Some contemporary writing on preliminaries and rear pastedown. A few pages with light marginal dampstaining. Armorial bookplate of J. Danson of York on front pastedown and neat contemporary inscription to title page. Bound in full brown paneled calf with a little cracking and chipping to the spine and rounding of the corners. ESTCN47453. After the Restoration, vigorous efforts were made around the country to obey the rubric about daily prayer and the tolling of the bell. Beveridge in this work determined "to conform the Church of England to that model." This earned for him the title of "the great reviver and restorer of primitive piety." He speaks of the Church of England "in high and glowing language" and urged the Church to "supply[] a constant round of Daily Services and Frequent Communions, exercising more vigorous discipline, and awakening her members to a higher and livelier estimation of the ministration and ordinances of the Church." This caused him to resolve to maintain things as he found them and act to give life to the existing system, opposing the "Scheme of Comprehension" and the projected alterations in the liturgy.