The life and letters of Elizabeth Prentiss: Author of Stepping heavenward

by Elizabeth Payson Prentiss

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: I visited Portland and was an inmate of his family, at the commencement of the illness that finally proved fatal. He was not confined to his bed, or to his room, but he was forbidden, indeed unable, to preach, unable to write or study; he could only read and think. Still he did not shut himself up in his study with his sad thoughts. I remember him as usually seated with his book by the side of the fire, surrounded by his family, as if he would enjoy their society as long as possible, and the children's play was never hushed on his account. Nor did he forget the young visitor. When the elder daughter, to whom my visit was made, was at school, he would care for my entertainment by telling a story, or propounding a riddle, or providing an entertaining book to beguile the time till Louisa's return Among the group in that cheerful room, I remember Lizzy well, a beautiful child, slender, dark-eyed, light-footed, very quiet, evidently observant, but saying little, affectionate, yet not demonstrative. One evening during my visit, Mrs. Payson not being quite well, the elders had retired early, leaving Louisa and myself by the side of the fire, she preparing her school lesson and I occupied in reading. The lesson finished, Louisa proposed retiring, but I was too much interested in my book to leave it and promised to follow soon. She left me rather reluctantly, and I read on, too much absorbed in my book to notice the time, till near midnight, when I was startled by hearing Dr. Payson's step upon the stairs. I expected the reproof which I certainly deserved, but though evidently surprised at seeing me, he merely said, " You here ? you must be cold. Why did you let the fire go out ? " Bringing in some wood he soon rekindled it, and began to talk to me of the book I was reading, which wa...

Genres: History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1882

About the author

ELIZABETH PRENTISS (1818 -1878) was the daughter of an early nineteenth-century revival preacher and began writing as a teenager. Born in 1818 in Portland, Maine, Prentiss was also the writer of the hymn "More Love to Thee, O Christ." Prentiss died in Vermont in 1878.

Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I even say in this review that would do this book and the life of Elizabeth Prentiss justice? I just finished it this morning after slowly reading through it for almost 7 months and I feel a bit empty, like a lost a friend. I most definitely cried after finishing and will probably go through a grief stage over it 😭❤️

Apart from my Bible, this is the most precious and treasured book I own. In our little New England small town that we live in there are a couple of old used book stores, and one of them in particular feels like you are going gold-mining when you step into it with books from floor to ceiling covering almost every inch of the rooms on two floors. In February our family went looking for book treasures and my husband spotted an original copy of this book from 1882 in incredible condition still and it stopped me in my tracks. It felt like a gift straight from Jesus because Stepping Heavenward is one of my favorite books of all time and I couldn’t wait to get to know the author more. I wish I could share a picture of the beautiful book here! 🤩

Elizabeth Prentiss’s husband, George Prentiss, did an incredible job compiling letters written from and to his dear wife, and displaying the beautiful legacy she left for Christ within her family and every community she found herself in. Her wit, humor, joy, and perseverance of faith amidst SO much suffering in her life has both pierced and encouraged me and will continue to for the rest of my life. Her constant plea and desire was to love Jesus more and to be with Him always. Her most frequent “complaint” was that God was *too* good to her. She radiated the light and love of Jesus to every person she crossed paths with. Her children adored her, and she and her husband clearly adored each other and their children. Her life and words will truly challenge, bless, and encourage me always and I cannot wait to meet her in heaven, worshipping our precious Savior together, but for now she’s my “dead mentor” (as John Piper puts it) for all of my days on earth! Praise God for Elizabeth Prentiss, her husband, and the incredible Christlike legacy they left in New England ❤️

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a woman who lived an ordinary life of faith. Not very exciting sounding, is it? Ordinary...what is good about the ordinary? What purpose can be found in it? The most important purpose. God's. Mrs. Prentiss wrote books; that was exceptional. But for the most part, her life was that of a Christian housewife's: cooking, taking care of the house, children, helping people in need. She did have several of her children die in childhood/infancy, but a lot of people did in her day. She always seems to be visiting a deathbed or potential deathbed, but her age was different from ours, people were dying all of the time. Nowadays, going to a funeral is the exception, not the rule.

Ironically, a life of faith in ordinary circumstances is just as, if not more, extraordinary as a person who exercised faith in extraordinary circumstances. In a letter to a friend, Mrs. Prentiss wrote: "...As to domestic cares, you know Mrs. Stowe has written a beautiful little tract on this subject -- 'Earthly Care a Heavenly Discipline.' God never places us in any position in which we can not grow. We may fancy that He does. We may fear we are so impeded by fretting, petty cares that we are gaining nothing; but when we are not sending any branches upward, we may be sending roots downward. Perhaps in the time of our humiliation, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress. God delights to try our faith by the conditions in which He places us. A plant set in the shade shows where its heart is by turning towards the sun, even when unable to reach it. We have so much to distract us in this world that we do not realize how truly and deeply, if not always warmly and consciously, we love Christ. But I believe that this love is the strongest principle in every regenerate soul. It may slumber for a time, it may falter, it may freeze nearly to death; but sooner or later it will declare itself as the ruling passion. You should regard all your discontent with yourself as negative devotion, for that it really is.......I know all about these little domestic foxes that spoil the vines, and sympathize with you in yours. But if some other trial would serve God's purposes, He would substitute it."

Her husband, George, put this biography together very well. It is very interesting, with excerpts from her diary and letters forming a major part. Even her thoughts on everyday occurrences are insightful and encouraging, here is an example: "This evening I passed unavoidably through Miss ----'s room. She was reading Byron as usual and looked so wretched and restless, that I could not help yielding to a loving impulse and putting my hand on hers and asking why she was so sad. She told me. It was just what I supposed. She is trying to be happy, and can not find out how......I alluded to her religious history and present hopes. She said she did not think continued acts of faith in Christ necessary; she had believed on Him once, and now He would save her whatever she did; and she was not going to torment herself trying to live so very holy a life, since, after all, she should get to heaven just as well through Him as if she had been particularly good (as she termed it). I don't know whether a good or a bad spirit moved me at that minute, but I forgot that I was a mere child in religious knowledge, and talked about my doctrine and made it a very beautiful one to my mind, though I don't think she thought it so. Oh, for what would I give up the happiness of praying for a holy heart -- of striving, struggling for it! Yes, it is indeed true that we are saved simply, only, apart from our own goodness, through the love of Christ. But who can believe himself thus chosen of God-- who can think of and hold communion with Infinite Holiness, and not long for the Divine image in his own soul? It is a mystery to me-- these strange doctrines. Is not the fruit of love aspiration after the holy? Is not the act of the new-born soul, when it passes from death unto life, that of desire for assimilation to and oneness with Him who is its all in all? How can love and faith be one act and then cease? I dare not believe -- I would not for a universe believe -- that my sense of safety in the love of Christ is not to be just the sense that shall bind me in grateful self-renunciation wholly to His service. Let be sure of final rest in heaven -- sure that at this moment I am really God's own adopted child; and I believe my prayers, my repentings, my weariness of sin, would be just what they now are; nay, more deep, more abundant. Oh, it is because I believe -- fully believe that I shall be saved through Christ -- that I want to be like Him here upon earth. It is because I do not fear final misery that I shrink from sin and defilement here." And also this excerpt from a letter: "I was somewhat encouraged by reading in my father's memoir, and in reflecting that he passed through far greater spiritual conflicts than will probably ever be mine....I see now that it is not always best for us to have the light of God's countenance. Do not spend your time and strength in asking for me that blessing, but this -- that I may be transformed into the image of Christ in His own time, in His own way."

I found this biography comforting, interesting and thought provoking. We look at exhibitions of faith in all kinds of circumstances, all of them are witnesses to it being worth it. Even the ones who exhibited biblical faith in common circumstances. Knowing the sovereignty of God, we trust that He places us in exactly the right place to exercise faith, as Oswald Chambers wrote: "Notice God's unutterable waste of saints, according to the judgment of the world. God plants His saints in the most useless places. We say - God intends me to be here because I am so useful. Jesus never estimated His life along the line of the greatest use. God puts His saints where they will glorify Him, and we are no judges at all of where that is."

And here, I'll end with one more quote by Mrs. Prentiss, again, from a letter to friend:

"Temptations and conflict are inseparable from the Christian life; no strange thing has happened to you. Let me comfort you with the assurance that you will be taught more and more by God's Spirit how to resist; and that true strength and holy manhood will spring up from this painful soil. Try to take heart; there is more than one foot-print on the sands of time to prove that 'some forlorn and shipwrecked brother' has traversed them before you, and come off conqueror through the Beloved."

[Jarm Boccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me almost six months to read, but it was well worth it! Elizabeth Prentiss was the author of the beloved, “Stepping Heavenward” book, which is really an autobiography of her life. What a woman! What a faith! You will be blessed by these letters her husband collected after her death. One can see how much of herself she gave to others, and most importantly, to God. Elizabeth wrote in her journal almost every day, and penned hundreds of encouraging letters to friends and family. You will get to know her on a deeper level, and marvel at how she spent her time each day. And to think she was a mother and minister’s wife as well! I highly recommend this book if you are curious about the “woman behind the book.”

[Kelhi Herring · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this long ago, in my late thirties. I was able to relate with her experiences and had a lot of takeaways that I wrote down in my prayer journal. May have to go see what those were. We're reading Stepping Heavenward in my book club, and I enjoyed this Life and Letters a lot more.

I read this before the year 2000, I'm sure, but I see no edition published before that to choose from. Mine had a white cover.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A valiant attempt at the expression of the life of a real woman not turned into an unrelatable icon at her death. And yet, what a emulatable person!

[Leslie Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good read if you are interested in Victorian daily life from the voice of someone who was currently living it in her letters, even if you don't know who Elizabeth Prentiss is. My only gripe about the Kindle edition was that it was sometimes hard to distinguish when the writing changed from the narrator's voice to Elizabeth Prentiss' voice, so I thought some formatting could have helped with that. Her attitude about life and death was inspiring.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoirs of a faithful woman - wife, mother, pastor's wife - who struggled and trusted God in the struggle.

[Rachel]

encouraging book