Customer Reviews

Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love to Thee

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first read Elizabeth Prentiss' most famous work, Stepping Heavenward, about 10 years ago during the fall semester of my junior year of college. The main character, Katy, exemplifies a woman of noble character who cares for her family, loves Jesus, and is passionate in her pursuit to be more holy. Not only did this book completely change the way I view womanhood, it has become one of my favorite books over the years as I have married and entered motherhood. Quite eager to learn more about Mrs. Prentiss and the circumstances life afforded her to write such a moving story, I ordered Sharon James' Elizabeth Prentiss `More Love to Thee' without a moment's hesitation. Using Elizabeth's personal letters and other writings, James develops a faithful, detailed picture of Elizabeth Prentiss' life and faith.

Sharon James begins Elizabeth's story at the most logical place: her birth. Born October 26, 1818 in Portland, Maine, Elizabeth was a much desired and cherished daughter of Pastor Edward Payson and his wife Louisa. Through the writings of friends and family members, James paints an endearing picture of `Lizzy,' as those closest to her were fond of calling her. James details many interesting facets of Elizabeth, her five siblings, and their happy, Christian home. But Elizabeth's life drastically changed with the long illness and subsequent death of her father just days before her ninth birthday. Even in just nine years, her father made a profound impact on Elizabeth's life. From Life of the Rev. Edward Payson, D.D., Edward Payson writes, "O what a blessed thing it is to lose one's will." This attitude coming from his heart no doubt greatly influenced Elizabeth in the way she sought to live her life joyfully surrendered to God, and further finds a place in Katy's life in Stepping Heavenward.

At the age of twelve, Elizabeth and her family moved to New York for a very short time. It is during their time in New York that Elizabeth professes her faith in Christ and joins Bleecker Street Presbyterian Church. Here, James sheds light on another very interesting aspect of Elizabeth's personality. "She did nothing by halves." James treats her readers to insights into Elizabeth's closest friendships, favorite authors and books, leisure and entertainments, interesting visitors to her mother's boarding house, those who influenced her growth in faith, and her passion for Jesus and teaching others about Him.

From 1840 to 1843, Elizabeth accepted a teaching position at a girls' school in Richmond, Virginia. Far from home, Elizabeth wrote and received many letters during these years, which James shares. Included in this portion of the biography are Elizabeth's thoughts on the best ways to educate young people, on the importance of loving one's students, even the (seemingly) worst ones, and on her own path to living a more holy, dedicated life. Of the latter, James lets us in on some new teaching, called `Christian perfection', Elizabeth learned from her sister, Louisa. At this point, James begins to unfold Elizabeth's struggle to discern true doctrine from false, an important element of her life that James revisits throughout the book as Elizabeth reads more about `Christian perfection' and the writings of Madam Guyon.

James explains that Elizabeth had a determined mind regarding the kind of man she would be willing to marry, and she would not budge. Set on a man with a passion for Christ that could match her own and a keen intellect, "On 11 September 1843, Elizabeth accepted a proposal of marriage from George Prentiss," writes James. This portion of the book, Elizabeth's courtship and marriage to Mr. Prentiss, is one of the most enjoyable and instructive. "Apart from anything else, she was clear-sighted enough to see that a wife needed `oceans of self-sacrificing love' and only a union with a real `soul mate' would make that sacrifice worthwhile" (p. 41). From this point to the end of Elizabeth's life, James details married life, motherhood, and everything that goes with them. James guides the reader through Elizabeth's life through letters and journals to reveal her very passionate and pure love for Mr. Prentiss (a rare sight these days), her love for her children, her intense grief over the deaths of two infants, her struggles with her health, her desire to comfort those who mourned, her love for her church family, and her fervent desire to be with her Savior. In all of these things, James shows the preeminent place Christ held in Elizabeth's heart. James writes, "Elizabeth firmly believed that a Christian could know `peace' whatever the circumstances through submitting to the will of God" (p.165). It is this conviction, and faith that said, "God never makes mistakes," that helped Elizabeth through the hardest trials of her life.

A prolific writer, Elizabeth found time to write around the needs of her family. James brings all of Elizabeth's experiences (from rubbing elbows with the great theologians of her day to European travel to the Civil War) together to illustrate what she believes most likely influenced each of Elizabeth's books and her most famous hymn, "More Love to Thee." In the conclusion, James compiles Elizabeth's personal writings to illustrate what Elizabeth thought of herself as a Christian, a wife and mother, and her thoughts on the `cult of true womanhood'. Finally, James offers her opinion of whether or not Elizabeth Prentiss contributed to the feminization of American culture and the "move to a more sentimental approach to religion" through her writings (p. 215). The "Suggestions for Further Reading" lists Elizabeth's books that are currently in print and where to find them.

Sharon James has written a widely accessible, enlightening, and inspiring biography of Elizabeth Prentiss. Young Christian women today are in desperate need of solid, God-glorifying older women to watch and imitate. Though Elizabeth has been living with Jesus for the last 129 years, Sharon James has put her into our hands. I am eager and joyful to recommend this book to all women!

I first heard of Elizabeth Prentiss a few years ago when her novel, Stepping Heavenward, was recommended to me. Since that first reading, I have re-read it many times. But, until recently, I did not know much about the author. But, because I enjoyed her writing, I was excited to learn more about her. I originally ordered this book as part of the GirlTalk Blog Book Club, but on the day it arrived, I peeked at the first chapter just to see what I was in for. Instead of reading along wit the group, I ended up starting, and finishing, it within 2 days of it's arrival!

I love reading biographies - especially biographies of men and women who spent a lifetime pursuing the Lord. I love getting a little peek into their world. My husband observed that reading a biography requires that you invest yourself in someone else's life. While I never really thought about it that way before, I think he is absolutely right. When you read the story of someone's life, you get to know them in a real and intimate way. As the book opens, Sharon James observes that, "All her life she was petite, observant, softly spoken in company, reserved and yet deeply affectionate. And, throughout her life, she quickly won the love of those who met her." (pg. 1)

You cannot help but love Elizabeth Prentiss after meeting her in this book. Not because she was a perfect, saint-like individual, but because she was real. One childhood friend noted that one of Elizabeth's most endearing qualities was "...an entire absence of all attempt to show her best side, or put the best face on anything that concerned her. An ingenuous frankness about herself and her affairs - even about her little weaknesses - was one of her most striking traits." (pg. 5) She had struggles, quirks, and flaws. But, she also had a sense of humor, a love of life, and an intense passion for the things of the Lord.

As I read through the letters, and excerpts of journal entries throughout the book, she refuses to put a good spin on her own sinful, selfish heart. She writes about her frustrations with herself honestly. Shortly after her engagement to George Prentiss, she wrote a letter to her cousin expressing a fear that her love for God would grow cold as she grew in love for her fiancé/husband. And, after she and George were married,
"we see her determination that in becoming a wife, she should not simply fulfill the role of a `cook and manager'. She wanted to organize a happy home, as well as keeping up her reading, so that she could provide intelligent and spiritual companionship to her husband." (pg. 57)

Like many women of her generation, becoming a wife and mother was Elizabeth's expected future. But, so often, the joys of motherhood were overshadowed by the death of their young children. For many, the breakdown of their own health was a consequence that they must also pay. Elizabeth was no exception. She loved children, and was excited to be a mother, but experienced the deep pain of losing 2 of her children within the span of 3 months. But, during this difficult time, she clung to the truth that, "God never makes a mistake." (pg. 75) Her book, Stepping Heavenward, gave her a vehicle for sharing this comforting truth with other women who were also grieving similar losses.

Though Elizabeth had a strong desire to honor the Lord in all she did, she was occasionally influenced by incorrect theological ideas, the trends of her day. She was impacted by the writings of a French mystic, who advocated introspection. She toyed with the ideas presented by the "perfectionists" on several occasions, though she eventually rejected their teachings. Her novels, often a reflection of events in her own life, though filled with biblical principles about parenting, marriage, courtship, and life in general, sometimes also advocated culturally acceptable roles, rather than exhorting women to fulfill their roles as ordained by God in Scripture.

Although this is the story of a woman who lived in the 1800's, many of the struggles, temptations, and difficulties that Elizabeth faced transcend generational lines. Throughout her life, we see Elizabeth's unwavering confidence in God, her sincere love for Christ, her passionate pursuit of her own personal holiness, her devotion to her family, and her desire to serve and minister to those around her. And, those qualities are just as relevant to women today.

In the Foreword to this book, Barbara Hughes warns, "If you would rather avoid a painfully sanctifying comparison of your own faith with that of this woman, perhaps you should stop reading now." (pg. xi) But, as Proverbs 13:20 observes "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (ESV)

If you truly desire to "walk with the wise" in your daily life, even if it requires a little "painful sanctification," I would highly recommend that you start with the life of this woman.

I also loved this book. Not only did the book challenge my faith it was also an enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this to anyone - but especially a married woman wanting to learn more about living a Godly life in the midst of various challenges (raising children, illness, etc).

After reading this biography of Elizabeth Prentiss, I love her book "Stepping Heavenward" even more. Her life is an incredible story of submitting to God's soverignty in all of life, no matter what tragedies and hardships come. I laughed, I cried... it moved me, Bob.

Honestly, I don't think the book was incredibly well-written, in some aspects, but it still communicates an amazing story and I would recommend it to anyone.

I really enjoyed Elizabeth Prentiss's book "Stepping Heavenward" so I decided to learn more about her. The book "Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love to The" has been very inspiring and provoking. Elizabeth Prentiss has been such an example of someone who is living her life through mundane activities, as well as through suffering, but she was also striving to continue to grow everyday in godly character.

Elizabeth Prentiss was the author of the hymn "More Love to Thee," the book "Stepping Heavenward" (enjoying a popular resurgence today), and many other books. And, I learned in this book that she lost two children (as a pre-schooler and as a newborn), suffered illness almost to death several times, and faced many other trials, but she chose to trust in God and allow these circumstances to draw her closer to Him. And through it all, she gave freely of herself to her family and to others in need. Truly an inspirational and spiritually encouraging story.

The author makes use of many quotes from the author's own letters, books, etc, as well as quotes from Prentiss's contemporaries. This really helped me feel like I got to know Elizabeth. The book has a helpful timeline at the beginning, as well as a significant quantity of endnotes. The author also does well in setting Prentiss in the context of her day.

One minor complaint is that this book suffered from mediocre editing. The back cover says "find out how one women discovered." The forward states that Elizabeth Prentiss's son died when she was pregnant with her 2nd child, but it was her third. And one of the photo captions states that she was born in 1828, instead of 1818. These were the only three that I noticed, but it's too many. And there were probably others that I missed. It's always disappointing to me when good solid Christian books from Christian publishers are the victims of poor editing.

Still, I would highly recommend this book to any woman who has enjoyed "Stepping Heavenward," as much of the book was drawn from Elizabeth Prentiss's real life. I would also recommend this to any Christian woman who is endeavoring to draw closer to God, including through the sometimes difficult circumstances of life.

I loved this book. It amazed me that a book, written over 150 years ago, set in the same time period would still be applicable to today. It was an entertaining read, and if you're a christian, will make you reevaluate your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I recommend you read it, and then pass it on to everyone you know. can't go wrong!!