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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

The Value and Responsibility of One Life

Once Elijah thought he was the only godly man left. It certainly seemed so. The king and all the people had gone over to Baal, and Elijah was the only one who stood up for God. In fact there were seven thousand others throughout the land who had not bowed down to Baal — but they were all in hiding a... Read More
J.R. Miller

The Virtue of Dependableness

After all, the old-fashioned virtues mean the most in life—and are of greatest value. Brilliance is well enough, if there is something solid and sure beneath it. It is interesting to listen to a fascinating talker—but what is it that he is saying? And who is he who is speaking so charmingly? "If I s... Read More
J.R. Miller

THE WALK TO EMMAUS

"When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!" Luke 24:30-31 It was a wonderful walk that the two friends took that afternoon. The Man who joined them, seemed only to be a common stranger. ... Read More
J.R. Miller

THE WATCHFULNESS OF GOD

Does God watch over the lives of little children on the earth? Does He keep guard over imperiled infancy? The story of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt answers the question in the case of one infant life. It was a flight divinely ordered and directed. The Child Jesus was in danger. There was n... Read More
J.R. Miller

The Wedded Life

Homes are the divinely ordained fountains of life. It is not by accident, that people live in families, rather than solitarily. The human race began in a family, and Eden was a home. The divine blessing has ever rested upon nations and communities, just in the measure in which they have adhered to t... Read More
J.R. Miller

The Wider Life

"ENLARGE the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes!" Isaiah 54:2 We should never be content with a narrow life. We are made for breadth and fullness, and we rob God when we fail to reach our best. Some people assert that Ch... Read More
J.R. Miller

THE WOMEN FRIENDS OF JESUS

Woman's devotion and fidelity shine out very brightly in the Gospel story. There is no mention of any woman ever showing unkindness to Jesus. A man denied Him, a man betrayed Him, men plotted to destroy Him, and at last put Him on the cross. But no woman had any part in wronging Him. There were cert... Read More
J.R. Miller

The Word that was NOT Said

Many of the sins of most good people—are sins of 'not doing'. We need always to put into our prayer of penitence the confession, "We have left undone—those things which we ought to have done." This is true of our sins of speech. In one of the Psalms is a resolve that we all need to make, "I will tak... Read More
J.R. Miller

THE YOUTH OF JESUS CHRIST

Although it is so little, enough is told us of the youth of Jesus Christ, to enable us to fill out a very beautiful picture. One of the charms of childhood, is its continual unfolding, as when a rosebud opens, little by little—until the full-blown rose delights us. The growth of Jesus was not abnorm... Read More
J.R. Miller

THINGS THAT ARE WORTH WHILE

There are things which are not worth while. If a man lives seventy years, and then leaves nothing good behind him, nothing which will stay in the world after he is gone, enriching it, beautifying it, sweetening its life—has it been really worth while for him to live? Or suppose that in his threescor... Read More
J.R. Miller

Things That Endure

In one of the fables of ancient poetry, an angel was permitted to visit this earth. From a lofty mountain top, he looked down upon the cities, palaces, and works of men. As he went away, he said, "All these people are spending their time in building only birds' nests. No wonder they fail and are ash... Read More
J.R. Miller

Things That LAST

"If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will rec... Read More
J.R. Miller

THIS LIFE AND THE AFTER LIFE

The continuity of life hereafter, is a Bible teaching. There is no real break in life. Jesus said, "Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." Paul spoke of his death as his departure from earth, as if he were going to another country. He referred to departed Christians as "absent from the b... Read More
J.R. Miller

This Too, Shall Pass Away

We meet life's experiences wisely—only when we keep in mind their transientness. Whatever they may be, painful or pleasant—they will soon pass away. We need not be too greatly troubled by that which is hard—for relief will soon come. We should not be too much elated by prosperity—for it will not las... Read More
J.R. Miller

Thoughtfulness and Tact

"Evil is wrought by lack of thought—as well as lack of heart." Some people have a wonderful way of always speaking a kind word or doing a kind act, at the right time—just when it is most needed and will do the greatest good. No matter when we meet them, they seem, as by some unfailing inspiration, t... Read More
J.R. Miller

TIMELINESS IN DUTY

The element of time is a vital matter in many duties. Done at the right moment, there is a blessing in them; delayed, they were as well not done at all. If we sleep through the hour for duty—we may as well sleep on after the hour. Waking then will not avail to accomplish that which we were set to do... Read More
J.R. Miller

Tired Feet

The close of every day, finds a great many people with tired and sore feet. There are some people whose duties require them to walk all day. There are the men who patrol the city's streets, the guardians of our homes; there are the postmen who bring the letters to our doors; there are the messengers... Read More
J.R. Miller

Transformation

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 C... Read More
J.R. Miller

Transformed by Beholding

"For those He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son!" Romans 8:29 "We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is!" 1 John 3:2 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same ima... Read More
J.R. Miller

Two Ways

We ought not to live in the past. We ought to forget the things that are behind — and reach forward to the things that are ahead. "Forward, and not back," is the motto of Christian hope. The best days are not any days we have lived already — but days that are yet to come. Yet some people live altoge... Read More

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