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J.R. Miller

J.R. Miller

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.

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J.R. Miller

January 20. The Light of the World

"To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" Luke 1:79 Suppose the sun were never to rise again, and the light of every star were put out — what a gloomy world this would be! This is the picture of the world, in a moral and spiritual sense, without Christ, as it is painted... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 21. Paths of Peace

"To guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:79 First, Jesus made the way of peace for us. Sin had destroyed the road to Heaven, leaving only a rough and thorny way for human feet to go upon. There never would have been a path of peace — had not Jesus Himself made it. All ways in life — except ... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 22. Blessed Night-Watch

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them!" Luke 2:8-9 We should notice that it was while these shepherds were at their common, humble work — that they had this wonderful vision. The best place to have t... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 23. Good News

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." Luke 2:10 Every work of the gospel is a joy-bell. In Eastern poetry, they tell of a wondrous tree on which grew golden apples and silver bells. Every time the breeze went by and tossed the fragrant branches, a shower of the golden apples fell, and the... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 24. The Christ Child

"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 1:11 How wonderful this was! We must remember who it was, that was thus born. The birth of another child in this world was nothing strange, for thousands of children are born every day. But this was the Lord of g... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 25. Strange Insignia

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12 What a strange sign this by which to recognize the King of glory! The shepherds would not find Him robed in purple garments, like the child of a prince — but wrapped in swaddling clothes. They would... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 26. God is Love

"Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14 Yes! Love is the meaning of it all. It tells of the good will of God toward all men. There is a strange medieval legend which illustrates this truth. An infidel knight, in the wildness of his mad, heaven-defying infid... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 27. Daily Duty

"The shepherds went back to their flocks" Luke 2:20 They might have been so enraptured with the sight of the Christ-child, that they would not have cared to go away again to their own dull work in the fields. Some people in their spiritual ecstasies, feel disinclined to devote themselves longer to t... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 28. Upright Devotion

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was just and devout" Luke 2:25 He was just in all his dealings with men — and devout in his dealings toward God. It takes both of these elements to make true religion. Some people are just — and not devout. They are scrupulously honest in all thei... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 29. Are We Ready

"And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." Luke 2:26 It is a fearful thing for anyone to see death — before seeing Christ. Death is terrible. It is a valley of shadows. It ushers us into the presence of God to be judged! Wha... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 3. Bearing Witness to Christ

"He was not that Light — but was sent to bear witness to that Light." John 1:8 The mission of every Christian is likewise to bear witness to the Light. The Bible says that the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord; but in our natural, unregenerate state — the candle is unlighted. It is capable of ... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 30. Asleep in Jesus

"Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your Word." Luke 2:29 No one is ready to die in peace — until he has seen Christ; but when he has seen Him, he needs no further preparation for dying. He may never have looked upon any of the wonders of this world; but it is not necessary... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 4. Rejecting Christ

"He came unto his own — but his own did not receive him." John 1:11 The picture represents Christ coming with infinite grace to those He loved, and to His own nation; only to be rejected by them and turned away from their doors. This was one of the saddest things about the Savior's mission to this w... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 5. Receiving Christ

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name — he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 The people who shut their doors on Christ — always shut out great blessings; those who open to Him — let all heaven's love and joy into their lives. Some say it does not matter w... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 6. The Incarnation

"The Word was made flesh — and dwelt among us." John 1:14 We must notice that it is the same Person who was in the beginning, who was God, and who made all things — who is here said to have become flesh. The Jesus of the gospel story — is the God of eternity, the Jehovah of the Old Testament! The re... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 7. God Revealed in Christ

"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side — He has revealed Him." John 1:18 We never can know God — except through His Son; there is no other possible revelation of Him. There is no ladder by which to ascend to God's blessedness — but the ladder of Christ's inc... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 8. A True and Holy Life

"In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah . . . and his wife Elizabeth . . . Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." Luke 1:5-6 It makes a great deal of difference in what times and amid what cir... Read More
J.R. Miller

January 9. The Test of Life

"In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah . . . and his wife Elizabeth . . . Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." Luke 1:5-6 This is a beautiful thing which God said of them. Yet, after all, t... Read More
J.R. Miller

July 1. The Touch of Faith

"Jesus turned around in the crowd and asked: Who touched my clothes?" Mark 5:30 How did he know that one touch — amid all the jostling of the crowd? The multitude were close about Him, pressing up against Him. The disciples even thought it strange that He should ask such a question. The people could... Read More
J.R. Miller

July 10. Herodia's Revenge

"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod" Matthew 14:6 It was deemed disgraceful even in that country and in those days, for a woman to show herself at all in a hall of revelry and carousal. Then to perform such a dance in such a place for the entertainment of ... Read More

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