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More Love To Thee
This volume is THE LIFE & LETTERS OF ELIZABETH PRENTISS who was the author of "Stepping Heavenward", one of the most popular books of the latter 19th century. Elisabeth Elliot wrote the Preface and "Reading Christian biographies has had an immeasurable influence in my own spiritual growth. 'More Love to Thee' reveals the character of a woman who loved God and earnestly sought to help others to love Him."
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
573 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 9, 2017
Okay, I loved this book and I've read it a number of times. It's a fairly long one, but I so enjoyed all the details in Mrs. Prentiss' life and thoughts that I didn't mind a bit. She is an intelligent, educated woman who has a wonderful sense of humor and deep sense of compassion. Yet I think it was her insights as a minister's wife and a mother of six children that particularly connected with me. I've clung to more than one of her quotes during some of my own trials. (How's that for a personal review?) For example? "Only a mother knows the varied discipline of hopes and fears and joys and sorrows through which a mother passes to glory--for this is the mother's pathway, and she rarely walks on a higher road or one that may so lead to perfection."
February 23, 2008
My other favorite "Elisabeth". My copy is well worn and earmarked. Now that my mom is gone, I love to read over her brief journals of a seemingly mundane life --more encouragment to press on and see God's love and care in the details. Mrs. Prentiss' biography is in the form of letters and meaningful correspondence with friends and family - a portrait of a woman leaning on Christ and a daily diet of grace and tender mercies. I gained courage and inspiration in my "calling" eavesdropping on her life. I also picked up the hidden fantasy of one day retreating with my large family to a "country house" for a whole season...with no TV or electronics...as the Prentiss' did. I've also been to Vermont to see the home on the cover and the Prentiss gravesites. It was a memorable pilgrimage for my family.
August 18, 2022
Though it took me a long time to read, I’m so glad I persevered and finished this book. The more I read of Elizabeth Prentiss’s life and writings, the more I am encouraged and strengthened in my own pursuit of holiness while also finding an increased desire and longing for “more love to Christ” in my life. It is incredible to me that a woman who lived 200 years ago could still have such a living and holy influence upon me, and I’m so grateful for that. She is an example of a life truly and wholly lived for Christ in both the small and big matters. I am looking forward to reading many of her other books that were mentioned throughout this one. Could not recommend more highly.
January 20, 2025
Such beauty! Such wisdom! Such love for Christ!
This biography, detailed and full of wonderful extracts (and even whole letters), certainly fulfills its mission.
“May this story of her life serve to increase [the] number [who call her blessed because they have been aided and cheered by her writings] and so to render her name dearer still. Above all, may it help to inspire some other souls with her own impassioned and adoring love to our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I cannot highly enough recommend this book. You will encounter a godly woman whose life is not so far removed from your own, because the Savior is the same.
Still, I wish, for some readers, there were a perhaps somewhat abridged version, if only the depth and richness of her character and love could somehow be contained in a smaller work. I think an abridged version would be valuable because some readers, given our modern tastes, will find too much detail. Still, it is worth the read. I recommend the audiobook available through LibriVox; with the audiobook, this biography should be more accessible. It certainty aided me, as at this stage in my life, I could never have read this so quickly.
Inspired by this biography, I look forward to reading her other novels. And I hope in the future to read this again—to actually read a print book with pen in hand, so that I can make note of the excellent things contained therein.
This biography, detailed and full of wonderful extracts (and even whole letters), certainly fulfills its mission.
“May this story of her life serve to increase [the] number [who call her blessed because they have been aided and cheered by her writings] and so to render her name dearer still. Above all, may it help to inspire some other souls with her own impassioned and adoring love to our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I cannot highly enough recommend this book. You will encounter a godly woman whose life is not so far removed from your own, because the Savior is the same.
Still, I wish, for some readers, there were a perhaps somewhat abridged version, if only the depth and richness of her character and love could somehow be contained in a smaller work. I think an abridged version would be valuable because some readers, given our modern tastes, will find too much detail. Still, it is worth the read. I recommend the audiobook available through LibriVox; with the audiobook, this biography should be more accessible. It certainty aided me, as at this stage in my life, I could never have read this so quickly.
Inspired by this biography, I look forward to reading her other novels. And I hope in the future to read this again—to actually read a print book with pen in hand, so that I can make note of the excellent things contained therein.
September 30, 2013
Fascinating woman, long book. Fascinating Victorian viewpoint, but frustrating to read so much about her but not really, really know her.
July 27, 2017
I love this book, loved this lady of God
May 31, 2021
This rating is based more on the enjoyment I had reading the book than in the enjoyment of the several recurring thoughts it has blessed me with. I'll start with those thoughts:
-Suffering has, up until the very recent past, been way more up close and in-your-face. I was honestly startled by how often Prentiss was visiting friends' and acquaintances' death-beds, or comforting bereaved mothers and wives: seemingly every week. The result of witnessing all this inescapable suffering alongside Prentiss, for me, was a perspective shift summed up in her own words: "This world seems less and less homelike every day I live" (154). To her, to live was Christ and to die was gain.
- When she was young, thinking about what she would do with her life, she prayed for only "space to deny myself." I have prayed this often since.
- In a letter to her husband, she writes, "I see little for us to do but what you suggest: to cheer each other up and wear out rather than rust out. It is more and more clear to me, that patience is our chief duty on earth, and that we can not rest here" (210). This phrase, "wear out rather than rust out," has been in my mind daily since reading it.
- "The greatest saint on earth has got to reach heaven on the same terms as the greatest sinner; unworthy, unfit, good-for-nothing; but saved through grace" (253).
- "I rather think, my dear, that if, as you say, you could see all my thoughts, you would drop me as you would a hot potato. You would see many good thoughts, I won't deny that, and some loving ones; but you would also see an abominable lot of elated, conceited, horrid ones; self-laudation even at good planned to do, and admired before done. But God can endure what no mortal eye could; He does not love us because we are so lovely, but because He always loves what He pities" (256-57).
- "I'm ever so glad that I'm growing old every day, and so becoming better fitted to be the dear and loving friend to young people I want to be" (280).
"I am not sure that it is best for us, once safe and secure on the Rock of Ages, to ask ourselves too closely what this and that experience may signify. It seems to me . . . that the nearer we get to Christ, the more we shall be taken up with Him. We shall be like a sick man who, after he gets well, forgets all the old symptoms he used to think so much of, and stops feeling his pulse, and just enjoys his health, only pointing out his physician to all who are diseased" (297).
- From a friend: "With her children she was a model disciplinarian, exceedingly strict, a wise law-maker; yet withal a tender, devoted, self-sacrificing mother. I have never seen such exact obedience required and given--or a more idolized mother. 'Mama's' word was indeed Law, but--O, happy combination!--it was also Gospel!" (359).
- "God can sweeten whatever he does to us" (374).
- "Perhaps we are never dearer to Him than when the wings on which we once flew to Him, hang drooping and broken at our side, and we have to make our weary way on foot" (404).
- "Only a mother knows the varied discipline of hopes and fears and joys and sorrows through which a mother passes to glory--for this is the mother's pathway, and she rarely walks on a higher road or one that may so lead to perfection" (464).
There! Those are the gems I want to be able to call up whenever I need them, and here they are for anyone else who wants them in this Goodreads review!
Now, with such treasures as those, the reason the book is three stars is that... it is VERY long, the text is VERY small, and most of her letters are about some acquaintance of theirs coming to visit or the flowers she planted in the garden or the weather or a lengthy reflection about a person I never heard of. It could be a bit of a slog. The recipients of the letters are noted, but it is never explained who they are, so it would be pages upon pages before I realize, "Oooooh, she's writing to the sister of her future husband!" or "Oooooooh, her sister-in-law got married, so her name changed, and THAT'S who this mysterious new name actually is!" It was a little frustrating, especially in the beginning when I was getting my bearings, not to know more about the people she was writing to.
I would never have gotten through if I hadn't "assigned" myself a certain number of pages every day. It just isn't the sort of book I'd read through otherwise. However, I am very glad I made it through, and I benefited from soaking in Prentiss's atmosphere.
I'll end with my favorite poem of hers from this volume:
Once more I change my home, once more begin
Life in this rural stillness and repose;
But I have brought with me my heart of sin,
And sin nor quiet nor cessation knows.
Ah, when I make the final, blessed change,
I shall leave that behind, shall throw aside
Earth's soiled and soiling garments and shall range
Through purer regions like a youthful bride.
Thrice welcome be that day! Do thou, meanwhile,
My soul, sit ready, unencumbered wait;
The Master bides thy coming, and His smile
Shall bid thee welcome at the golden gate. (307)
-Suffering has, up until the very recent past, been way more up close and in-your-face. I was honestly startled by how often Prentiss was visiting friends' and acquaintances' death-beds, or comforting bereaved mothers and wives: seemingly every week. The result of witnessing all this inescapable suffering alongside Prentiss, for me, was a perspective shift summed up in her own words: "This world seems less and less homelike every day I live" (154). To her, to live was Christ and to die was gain.
- When she was young, thinking about what she would do with her life, she prayed for only "space to deny myself." I have prayed this often since.
- In a letter to her husband, she writes, "I see little for us to do but what you suggest: to cheer each other up and wear out rather than rust out. It is more and more clear to me, that patience is our chief duty on earth, and that we can not rest here" (210). This phrase, "wear out rather than rust out," has been in my mind daily since reading it.
- "The greatest saint on earth has got to reach heaven on the same terms as the greatest sinner; unworthy, unfit, good-for-nothing; but saved through grace" (253).
- "I rather think, my dear, that if, as you say, you could see all my thoughts, you would drop me as you would a hot potato. You would see many good thoughts, I won't deny that, and some loving ones; but you would also see an abominable lot of elated, conceited, horrid ones; self-laudation even at good planned to do, and admired before done. But God can endure what no mortal eye could; He does not love us because we are so lovely, but because He always loves what He pities" (256-57).
- "I'm ever so glad that I'm growing old every day, and so becoming better fitted to be the dear and loving friend to young people I want to be" (280).
"I am not sure that it is best for us, once safe and secure on the Rock of Ages, to ask ourselves too closely what this and that experience may signify. It seems to me . . . that the nearer we get to Christ, the more we shall be taken up with Him. We shall be like a sick man who, after he gets well, forgets all the old symptoms he used to think so much of, and stops feeling his pulse, and just enjoys his health, only pointing out his physician to all who are diseased" (297).
- From a friend: "With her children she was a model disciplinarian, exceedingly strict, a wise law-maker; yet withal a tender, devoted, self-sacrificing mother. I have never seen such exact obedience required and given--or a more idolized mother. 'Mama's' word was indeed Law, but--O, happy combination!--it was also Gospel!" (359).
- "God can sweeten whatever he does to us" (374).
- "Perhaps we are never dearer to Him than when the wings on which we once flew to Him, hang drooping and broken at our side, and we have to make our weary way on foot" (404).
- "Only a mother knows the varied discipline of hopes and fears and joys and sorrows through which a mother passes to glory--for this is the mother's pathway, and she rarely walks on a higher road or one that may so lead to perfection" (464).
There! Those are the gems I want to be able to call up whenever I need them, and here they are for anyone else who wants them in this Goodreads review!
Now, with such treasures as those, the reason the book is three stars is that... it is VERY long, the text is VERY small, and most of her letters are about some acquaintance of theirs coming to visit or the flowers she planted in the garden or the weather or a lengthy reflection about a person I never heard of. It could be a bit of a slog. The recipients of the letters are noted, but it is never explained who they are, so it would be pages upon pages before I realize, "Oooooh, she's writing to the sister of her future husband!" or "Oooooooh, her sister-in-law got married, so her name changed, and THAT'S who this mysterious new name actually is!" It was a little frustrating, especially in the beginning when I was getting my bearings, not to know more about the people she was writing to.
I would never have gotten through if I hadn't "assigned" myself a certain number of pages every day. It just isn't the sort of book I'd read through otherwise. However, I am very glad I made it through, and I benefited from soaking in Prentiss's atmosphere.
I'll end with my favorite poem of hers from this volume:
Once more I change my home, once more begin
Life in this rural stillness and repose;
But I have brought with me my heart of sin,
And sin nor quiet nor cessation knows.
Ah, when I make the final, blessed change,
I shall leave that behind, shall throw aside
Earth's soiled and soiling garments and shall range
Through purer regions like a youthful bride.
Thrice welcome be that day! Do thou, meanwhile,
My soul, sit ready, unencumbered wait;
The Master bides thy coming, and His smile
Shall bid thee welcome at the golden gate. (307)
October 31, 2024
In the past four years or so, Elizabeth had become like a friend to me. It still kind of freaks me out that I can read the writings of someone who lived two hundred years ago and find that they thought and felt the exact same things that I have. I love this book and will re-read it again, not because it's the best book ever written but because it's very helpful and suited to me. That's why I probably wouldn't recommend it very highly: I don't necessarily think it is a universally helpful book; it depends more on the reader. I wouldn't love it as much if I weren't me.
Well, that wasn't a very coherent review. All I can say is that the entire book is summed up by the title: more love to Thee, O Christ.
I can't wait to hang out with Elizabeth in heaven
Well, that wasn't a very coherent review. All I can say is that the entire book is summed up by the title: more love to Thee, O Christ.
I can't wait to hang out with Elizabeth in heaven
August 6, 2025
Although a lengthier biography than some, this is well worth reading, especially for her tender and beautiful views on motherhood and suffering through loss and prolonged illness. While certain aspects of Pietiism and mysticism influence her views, one still gleans insight into some of the theological battles of the day in which she lived, and her love for Christ and His Word preeminently shines through. One also sees how her beautiful book, ‘Stepping Heavenward’ reflects many of her real-life experiences. This is a soul-shaping read, and one to thoughtfully savor.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews