"My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior!" Luke 1:47
This is another strain of Mary's song, and it has for us the secret of all deep Christian joy. We have no real and lasting joy — until we are in God's family, and in God as the refuge of our souls. One of the old prophets says, "Let the inhabitants of the rock sing!" None can sing with lasting gladness, but the inhabitants of the Rock — those who are in the shelter of the Rock of Ages. The world's songs soon change to cries of terror.
During the battle of Gettysburg there was a little bird on a tree that would sing a few notes every time there was a lull in the awful roar of battle; but when the crash began again, its song would cease. That is the way with this world's joy. It sings a few strains now and then in the pauses of life's struggle and discontent. When the waves of sorrow break — its voice is drowned; it cannot sing in loss, in bereavement, in the hour of dying. But one who rejoices in God — has a joy that sings on through all the roar of battle, through all the darkness of night.
Troubles come to the Christian — but they do not rob him of his joy. He may be in deep sorrow — but all the while there is a fountain of joy welling up in his heart.
Sometimes there is a freshwater spring by the seashore. Twice every day the salt tides roll over it — but the spring never ceases to flow; and when the brackish waves have rolled back, the waters of the spring are still as sweet as ever. That is the way with the Christian's joy. It is a living well in his heart. Even in his sorrow, he has a deep peace in his soul. Then when the sorrow is past, the joy springs as fresh as ever. The permanence of all joy depends upon the source from which it comes. If it is in God that we rejoice, then the troubles of this world have no power to take from us the gladness.
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.