Kept for the Master's Use

Frances Ridley HavergalProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 213K words
Chapters: 22

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Kept for the Master's Use by Frances Ridley HavergalAuthor: Havergal, Frances Ridley, 1836-1879,Language: English, Class: BV: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: Practical theology, Worship, Release Date: Mar 15, 2010

Editor's review

Kept for the Master's Use is a Christian devotional work by Frances Ridley Havergal, belonging to the genre of practical theology and writing on the life of faith. The book unfolds around the theme of fully surrendering oneself and being set apart for sacred use; its tone is earnest, carrying the warmth and self-examination characteristic of nineteenth-century devotional literature. Havergal was also known for her hymn writing, and the prose accordingly has a rhythmic, prayerful quality suited to chapter-by-chapter meditation in personal devotions. It is not a systematic theology treatise and makes no scholarly argument; rather, it guides readers toward reflection on faith in daily life through exhortation and prayer. For readers familiar with the Christian tradition who wish to use short chapters for quiet reading, this book offers plain and focused companionship; for non-Christians, it is more like a textual sample for understanding the style of nineteenth-century devotional writing.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a Christian background who need devotional reading
Readers who enjoy nineteenth-century devotional literature and the hymn tradition
Individual readers who wish to use short chapters for daily meditation
General readers studying texts of Christian practical theology

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking systematic theological argument or academic research
Non-believing readers uninterested in the genre of religious exhortation
Readers expecting narrative storytelling or character-driven plots

Reading tips

Read a short section each day, then leave a few minutes for quiet reflection and prayer.
Read alongside Havergal's hymns to appreciate her stylistic range.
Keep a notebook to record passages that move you and practical thoughts for the day.
Do not rush; rereading by theme section by section better conveys the exhortative tone.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for non-Christians?

It can be read, but expectations should be adjusted. It is essentially Christian devotional exhortation and presupposes a reader who accepts its framework of faith. Non-Christians interested in religious literature or the nineteenth-century devotional tradition may read it as a textual sample, but should not expect neutral argument or academic analysis.

Is the content theoretical or practical?

It leans toward practice and exhortation. It focuses on how faith is lived out in daily life, with a tone centered on encouragement, self-examination, and prayer rather than a systematic unfolding of theological theory. It is suited as personal devotional material, not a theology textbook.

Must it be read in order from beginning to end?

Not necessarily. The chapters offer thematic exhortations; they may be read in order, or one may begin with a theme that speaks to one's present situation. For daily devotions, reading a short section at a time and pausing for reflection is usually more suitable than reading it straight through.

Comments

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About the author

Frances Ridley Havergal Author · British · 1836–1879

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879) was an English hymn writer and religious poet, born in Worcestershire. She knew several languages and had a command of Greek and Hebrew, which gave her hymn writing both breadth of vision and delicacy of expression. Her representative works include "Take My Life and Let It Be," "Kept for the Master's Use," "Coming to the King," and "Morning Bells; Or, Waking Thoughts for Little Ones." Her writings centre on themes of consecration, faith, and mission, with plain language and sincere feeling, and are still widely used in Christian worship. Three of her works are held in this collection. Public information about the details of her life and writing career is limited, and the present account rests mainly on her surviving hymns and religious poems.