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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

Saved by Grace Ephesians 2:1-10

The passage on which this chapter is based begins with a look backward at the condition from which the Ephesians has sprung. They had been raised from the dead. Jesus Christ came into a world of dead men. He himself was the only living man in the world. He came to give life to the dead. "I am come t... Read More
J.R. Miller

Secrets of Contentment

"I am glad to think I am not bound to make the world go right, But only to discover, and to do with cheerful heart, The work which God appoints." Someone has said, that if men were to be saved by contentment, instead of faith in Christ, most people would be lost. Yet contentment is a duty. It is als... Read More
J.R. Miller

Secrets of Happy Home Life

by J. R. Miller, 1894 Home is among the holiest of words. A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world's perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomo... Read More
J.R. Miller

Seeds of Light

"Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." Psalm 97:11 The figure of the seed is very common in the Scriptures. All natural life begins in germs, and develops into fullness of form and strength. The same law prevails in the spiritual world. The kingdom of heaven begins... Read More
J.R. Miller

Self-Denial Romans 14:1-21

We are not done with life as we live it; we shall meet it again, every act of it. We are not answerable to men. But we must never forget that there is One to whom we are all answerable. "Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God." The only true way to live, therefore, is to keep God always... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 1. Servants of Sin

"Whoever commits sin — is the servant of sin" John 8:34 So the people who boast so of their freedom — are really slaves after all. They look upon a Christian with a sot of pity, because he cannot do the wicked things they do. "Oh, I forgot! You cannot go to the theater; you cannot go to the tavern. ... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 10. Green Pastures

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture." John 10:9 The shepherd takes care that his sheep are well fed. Christ also feeds His people, and leads them out to find pasture. The Bible is His pasture-land, and the pasturage there is always go... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 11. Christ Knows His Own

"I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own sheep — and they know Me!" John 10:14 The Jewish shepherds had certain marks by which they knew their own sheep. Even in this country, the farmers put "brands" on their sheep — their own initial, or an "ear-mark," or some other particular sign by which they wil... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 12. The Home of Bethany

"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha." John 11:1 This home at Bethany was wondrously favored. The family seems to have been somewhat wealthy. It was a loving home, the three members named being bound together by very close and tender ties.... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 13. The Sister's Message

"So the sisters sent word to Jesus: Lord, the one You love is sick!" John 11:3 In their trouble — the first thought of the sisters was of Jesus, and they sent at once to Him. This lesson we should not overlook. No doubt they sent for the physician; but they sent also for Christ. We should never fail... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 14. Martha Going to Jesus

"When Martha heard that Jesus was coming — she went out to meet Him" John 11:20 The coming of Jesus to this Bethany home was never so welcome as on that day. It is the same still, in people's homes, even in those where He is most loved: Christ is never so dear and precious to us — as when we are in ... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 15. Unbelieving "Ifs"

"Lord, if you had been here — my brother would not have not died!" John 11:21 Would Lazarus not have died — if Jesus had been there? Do we not read that because Jesus loved the Bethany family, and because He learned of the sickness of Lazarus — therefore He remained two days after the messenger came... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 16. Life in Christ

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me — will never die!" John 11:25-26 Martha believed in the resurrection at the last day; but that seemed far away, while her heart craved a present comfort. It was to this fee... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 17. The Seeking Savior

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" Luke 15:4 Does the shepherd care when one of His sheep has left the fold? He has a hundred in his flock — does he care that one of them... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 18. Brought Home

"And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home!" Luke 15:5-6 He does not drive the poor weary sheep home. This is not the way of the gentle shepherd. He stoops down and lifts it up, and lays it on his own shoulder and carries it back. There is a wonderful lesson in this li... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 19. The Far Country

"The younger son got together all he had, set off for a far country and there squandered his substance in wild living." Luke 15:13 It is not long after a man has shaken off his subjection to God — before he begins his departure from Him. He first gets the reins into his own hands — and then the old ... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 2. Passing By

"A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side." Luke 10:31 We must not suppose that all priests were thus cold and heartless. Ministers are generally warm-hearted men; they all ought to be so; they ought to set the people the example of ki... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 2. The Beggar's Escort

"The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." Luke 16:22 Nothing is said about his funeral. Of course, if he had one — it was only a pauper's funeral. Earth had no honor for the beggar, no splendid coffin, no flowers. But the angels came — and were his bearers and escort to ... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 20. The Prodigal's Return

No matter how far we have wandered! (J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890) "But while he was still a long way off — his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him!" Luke 15:20 The boy had, in the far-aw... Read More
J.R. Miller

September 22. Continue in Prayer

"Men ought always to pray, and not give up." Luke 18:1 A great many people get discouraged in praying, because the answer does not come at once. It should be settled in the mind, first — that God always hears the true prayer, and that He will always send an answer — though it may not always be the a... Read More

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