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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

June 2. The Friend of Sinners

"When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house — she brought an alabaster jar of perfume" Luke 7:37 It is wonderful how genuine goodness draws to itself the unfortunate, the troubled, the friendless, the outcast, the fallen. Wherever Jesu... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 20. Dropping Seeds

"The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." Mark 4:31-32 Many great histories of blessing — may be... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 21. The Other Side

"He said unto them: Let us pass over unto the other side." Mark 4:35 Christ is continually saying the same to us, though with varying meaning in his words. He is ever calling us to pass over some line — into new fields, with their new experiences, new privileges, new duties, new conflicts, new joys.... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 22. Life's Storms

"Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat!" Matthew 8:23-24 Had the disciples put out sea without Christ's bidding — they would not have had the same reason to expect His protection and deliv... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 23. Faithless Fear

"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped! Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him: Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Mark 4:37-38 These words imply that the disciples thought Jesus was indifferent to... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 24. The Hearer of Prayer

"He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: 'Silence! Be still!' The wind ceased, and there was a great calm!" Mark 4:39 Jesus did not hear the roar of the storm in His sound sleep; but the moment there was a cry from His disciples for help — He instantly awoke. What a revelation of His heart... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 25. Christ in the Storm

"He rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea: Peace, be still!" Mark 4:39 He spoke to the storm and to the tossing sea — as if they were intelligent creatures — just as a man would speak to his servants. The truth we learn here, is that He is Lord of nature; that the elements recognize His voice, and... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 26. Depart from Us

"Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region." Mark 5:17 This is one of the saddest sentences in the Gospels. We can scarcely conceive of any person asking Jesus to go away. He had come to their coast to bring them rich blessings. His hands were full of golden gifts. He had power... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 27. Those Who Are Sick

"Those who are whole have no need of the physician — but those who are sick." Mark 2:17 That was the answer of Jesus, to the murmuring about his presence among the disreputable people at Matthew's feast. The Pharisees thought He was compromising Himself, in sitting down at the table with such sinful... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 28. Joy in the Lord

"How can the guests of the bridegroom fast — while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them." Mark 2:19 This was our Lord's answer to those who thought His religion was too sunny and joyous — that it had not fast-days enough in it. They thought that religion was genuine — onl... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 29. A New Garment

"No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment." Mark 2:21 Christ did not come into this world to patch up an old religion, merely to mend a hole here, and beautify a spot there, and a touch to this part or that. He came to make all things new. And when He saves a sinner, He does not propose me... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 30. At the Point of Death

"One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and kept begging Him: My little daughter is at the point of death!" Mark 5:22-23 There is nothing like trouble — to drive people to Christ. So long as things go on prosperously, many men do not ask any favo... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 4. Free Forgiveness

"Neither of them had the money to pay him back — so he canceled the debts of both." Luke 7:42 All of us are in debt. Of course there is a difference in the amount of our debts. Some have sinned far more than others. But whether our debt is little or much — we have nothing at all with which to pay it... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 5. Peace with Pardon

"Your faith has saved you; go in peace!" Luke 7:50 Saved! This poor, shame-soiled, sin-ruined thing, whom the Pharisee would have thrust out of his house into the street — saved! Never to go back any more to her old life! An heir of Heaven now, destined to walk the heavenly streets in white! There i... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 6. Right Enthusiasm

"When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said: He is out of his mind!" Mark 3:21 Even our Lord's relatives did not understand Him. His life was so unworldly, that it could not be measured by the ordinary standards. They could account for his unconquerable zeal — o... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 7. A Beacon-Light

"But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin!" Mark 3:29 Few words in the Bible have caused more anxiety and fear than these. Learned men do not agree in their idea as to what it is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. But no matter about th... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 8. Christ's Relatives

"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:33-35 This seems too good to be true. To be the brother or the sister of Jesus — di... Read More
J.R. Miller

June 9. Always on Duty

"As He was speaking, a Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and reclined at the table." Luke 11:37 Our Lord was not ashamed to be the guest of publicans and sinners — but neither did he reject the invitations of the rich and influential. He was ready to go wherever there was an opportu... Read More
J.R. Miller

Keeping One's Life in Tune

Pianos have to be kept in tune. Every now and then the tuner comes and goes over all the strings, keying them up, so that there will be no discords when the instrument is played. Our lives have a great many more strings than a piano, and much more easily get out of tune. Then they begin to make disc... Read More
J.R. Miller

Kindness That Comes Too Late

I have always been glad that there was one who brought out her alabaster vase, and anointed the Lord beforehand for his burial. Most people would have waited, keeping the vase sealed, until he was dead, and would then have broken it to anoint his body when it lay, torn, wounded and cold, wrapped in ... Read More

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