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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

May 12. Useless Worries

"Who of you by worrying, can add a single cubit to his height?" Matthew 6:27 So it is useless to worry! A short person cannot, by any amount of anxiety, make himself an inch taller. Why, therefore, should he waste his energy and fret his life away — in wishing he were taller? One worries because he ... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 13. Lessons from Lilies

"And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fi... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 14. God Will Provide

"Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 We are to take no anxious thought for our own life, for food or clothing; because that is God's responsibility, not ours. There is one thing, however, for which we are to take thought, ... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 15. One Day at a Time

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own!" Matthew 6:34 This last reason our Lord gives against anxiety for the future, is that we have nothing to do with the future. God gives us life by days — little single days. Each day ... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 16. Judging of Others

"Do not judge — or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1 Few faults are more common than this 'judging of others'. It would not be so bad if we were disposed to look at people charitably; but we are not. Our eyes are far keener for flaws and blemishes — than for marks of beauty. Not many of us are fo... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 17. Finding Fault with Others

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye — and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3 It is strange how oblivious we can be of our own faults and blemishes — and how clearly we can see those of other people! One old writer says: "Men are more apt to use a m... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 18. A Self-Righteous Spirit

"How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:4 But is it not a kindness to a friend to take the speck out of his eye? If we met a neighbor with a speck in his eye, would it not be a brotherly thing to stop a... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 19. Begin at Home

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye!" Matthew 7:5 Begin at home — that is the teaching; not at home in the general sense, with other members of your family — but very close at home, with yourself. It is a... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 2. Our Father

"Our Father in Heaven!" Matthew 6:9 This is the 'golden gate' of the temple of prayer! When our Lord taught His disciples how to pray — it was thus He said they should begin. They were not to come to infinite power, or to unknowable mystery, or to inaccessible light — but to tender fatherhood. This ... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 20. The Prayer Promise

"For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8 These are very positive promises — and yet they must be read intelligently, in the light of other scriptures which explain and qualify the words. It is not all asking, which receives; fo... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 21. Good Things from God

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children — how much more shall your Father who is in Heaven, give good things to those who ask him." Matthew 7:11 No father will answer his hungry child's cry for bread — with a stone; or give the child a serpent — if he asks for a fish... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 22. Our Duty to Others

"So in everything, do unto others — what you would have them do unto you." Matthew 7:12 This is a wonderfully comprehensive rule of action! It bids us to consider the interests of others — as well as our own. It bids us to set our neighbor alongside of ourselves, and think of him as having the same ... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 23. Two Roads and Two Gates

"Enter in at the strait gate." Matthew 7:13 All truly valuable things cost much. Such a glorious privilege as the Christian's, therefore, cannot be gotten without effort. To open the way, and to purchase for us the privilege of becoming children of God — the Son of God had to come from Heaven in con... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 24. In Sheep's Clothing

"Watch out for false prophets! They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves!" Matthew 7:15 There is something fearful in the eagerness of the devil to destroy souls. He sends his agents and messengers in forms and garbs to deceive the simple-minded and unwary. He even... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 25. Doing the Father's Will

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 7:21 It is not enough to believe in Christ intellectually, even to be quite orthodox in creed. It is not enough to seem to honor Christ before men, prayi... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 26. The Safe Foundation

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice — is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24 Everything turns on the doing or not doing of Christ's words. Both these men heard the words — but one of them obeyed as well, and thus built on the true ... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 27. Christ the Great Counselor

"Calling two of them, John sent them to the Lord to ask: Are you the one who was to come — or should we expect someone else?" Luke 7:18-19 John the Baptist was in perplexity about certain matters. There were some things that were baffling him, that he could not make out himself, and he sent to Chris... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 28. Loss of Faith

"Calling two of them, John sent them to the Lord to ask: Are you the one who was to come — or should we expect someone else?" Luke 7:18-19 John the Baptist was in prison — it certainly was not a very cheerful place to be in. We ought scarcely to be astonished at his temporary loss of bright faith. Y... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 29. Needless Doubts

"Calling two of them, John sent them to the Lord to ask: Are you the one who was to come — or should we expect someone else?" Luke 7:18-19 John did not doubt the Messiahship of Jesus that day beside the Jordan, when from the cloven heavens, the radiant Dove descended upon Him and the Father's voice ... Read More
J.R. Miller

May 3. Glorifying God

"Hallowed be your name." Matthew 6:9 While the name "Our Father" over the gate of prayer assures us of loving welcome and of all tenderness, thoughtfulness, and care; the words "in Heaven" remind us of the surpassing glory and majesty of God. We should not lessen the force of "hallowed be your name.... Read More

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