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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

Paul's First Missionary Journey: Iconium and Lystra--Acts 14

The healing of the lame man at Lystra, made a great stir in the town. Lystra was a wild place. The traditional meaning of the name was Wolf-land, and the character of the people corresponded to this designation. They were easily excited and knew no self control. Paul was preaching and this lame man ... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Last Words 2 Timothy 4:1-18

It is the year A.D. 64, and the great apostle is lying in a damp Roman prison cell waiting for his final trial. Two charges are filed against him; one, taking part in the burning of Rome, July 19, A.D. 64; the other, treason, in attempting to change the established customs of society and weaken impe... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Own Story of His Life 2 Corinthians 11:22-12:10

More than twenty years after the conversion of Saul the Persecutor, further facts were added to the biography when Paul (as he was known during the years of his ministry) wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth. Charges of weakness and cowardice had been made against him, and he defended hi... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Preaching 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

The First Epistle to the Corinthians was written from Ephesus in the spring of A.D. 57. The apostle had heard that dissensions were troubling the church at Corinth, and he wrote to them giving many exhortations and commands. Early in the letter he stated his conception of his mission, "Christ sent m... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Second Missionary Journey: Antioch to Philippi--Acts 16:6-15

Paul was "forbidden by the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in the province of Asia". We would say there is no place where one should not be glad to preach. But we see here that sometimes, even where there are people who need the Word, it may not be our duty to speak to them. God shuts doors—as w... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Second Missionary Journey: The Philippian Jailer--Acts 16:16-40

As Paul and Timothy were going to the place of prayer at Philippi, they were attracted by an unfortunate girl possessed by a demon. She was used by her owners to make money for them. "She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling." They traded upon her supposed inspiration, usin... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Second Missionary Journey: Thessalonica and Berea--Acts 17:1-15

The passage begins with an account of the passing of Paul and his company from Philippi to Thessalonica. These missionaries never rested. They went on continually from place to place. They were men with burning hearts. They had a great mission, and were intent upon fulfilling it. They had entrusted ... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Second Missionary Journey: At Athens--Acts 17:16-34

Paul did not go to Athens as a tourist, nor as a student of art; he went there as a missionary, carrying the gospel of Christ. "He was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols!" No wonder his spirit was stirred within him. Among others he encountered certain Epicurean and Stoic phil... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Third Missionary Journey: Ephesus--Acts 19:8-29

From the beginning, Christianity sought the cities as great centers of influence. Ephesus was an important city. It was a great center of heathenism, having in it the magnificent temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As usual, Paul began his work in Ephesus with his own people, the... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Third Missionary Journey: Farewells--Acts 20:22-38

Paul was on his way to Jerusalem. The ship which bore him stopped at Miletus. There he sent for the elders of the church at Ephesus and spoke to them some earnest farewell words. He spoke first of his journey to Jerusalem as leading him into suffering. "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going t... Read More
J.R. Miller

Paul's Third Missionary Journey: The Riot at Ephesus--Acts 19:23-20:1

The gospel does not interfere with business—unless the business is sinful. When it is right, it is really a part of Christian living—as is attendance at prayer meetings. We may serve God as acceptably on Monday at our common work—as we do on Sunday in our religious worship. But there are certain kin... Read More
J.R. Miller

People as Means of Grace

"As iron sharpens iron—so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 There are pairs of pictures which show some Indian children: first—as they appeared when they came fresh from their barbarism, with the dress and all other marks of their savage state; then—as they appeared after a time in the schoo... Read More
J.R. Miller

People Who Fail

There are many people who fail. Yet there are two standards by which success and failure may be measured: there is the world's standard, and there is God's standard. Many whom men set down as having failed—are successful in the higher sense; while many of earth's vaunted successes, are really comple... Read More
J.R. Miller

Peril in Life's Changes

There is always peril in change. The more suddenly the change comes, and the greater it is, the more is the danger that hurt will result. There is danger in the ordinary changes of life, from infancy to childhood, from childhood to youth, from youth to manhood and womanhood. Many do not make the tra... Read More
J.R. Miller

Personal Beauty

The desire to be beautiful, is natural and right. Holiness is beauty. The human form, when it first came from the Creator's hands, was perfect in loveliness. It was the embodiment of all that is noble, graceful, winning, impressive and charming. We cannot doubt that God made a perfect body as the te... Read More
J.R. Miller

PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP WITH CHRIST

"Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16 On several sides, we are in danger of superficial and shallow conceptions of a true pious life. One of these is, that it consists in correct doctrinal beliefs, that holding firmly and intelligently to the t... Read More
J.R. Miller

Pictures in the Heart

Niebuhr, the distinguished traveler, became blind in his old age. But, having traversed many lands, amid the fairest and loveliest scenes of the world, he had stored away in his memory, countless pictures of landscapes, mountain-scenery, valleys of rare beauty, and great and splendid cities. Then, a... Read More
J.R. Miller

Possibilities of Friendship

The subject of friendship never wears out. Human hearts are the same in all ages. We all need love. There is a story of a captive in the Bastile, long immured in a lonely dungeon, whose heart, craving friendship in some form, found it in a little spider which was in his cell. Even Jesus felt the nee... Read More
J.R. Miller

Practical Consecration

"I used to chafe and fret when interrupted in favorite pursuits—but I have learned that my time all belongs to God, and I just leave it in his hands. It is very sweet to use it for him when he has anything for me to do—and pleasant to use it as I desire, when he has not." Elizabeth Prentiss A great ... Read More
J.R. Miller

Practical Lessons from the Story of Joseph

JOSEPH AND HIS DREAMS They said one to another, "Behold, here comes that dreamer!" Genesis 37:19 When a story of providence begins—we never know what the end will be. In seven chapters will be retold the story whose beginning we have here a boy coming across the fields carrying a basket. God wanted ... Read More

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