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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

August 17. Bright Clouds

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5 The cloud was a symbol of the Divine presence. One of the writers says the disciples were afraid as they saw the cloud c... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 18. Failures

"I brought him to your disciples — but they could not cure him" Matthew 17:16 There are a great many teachers in our Sunday schools who have had similar experiences. Children have been brought to them, possessed by evil spirits — and they have failed to cast out the demons. They have tried every dev... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 19. The Unfailing Helper

"Bring the boy here to Me." Matthew 17:17 The disciples had failed in their effort to cast out the demon — but there yet was hope. The Master Himself was now at hand, and He could not fail. There should be a great deal of encouragement in this, for all who are trying to change people's lives into sp... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 2. Divine Sympathy

"He looked up to Heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means, 'Be opened!')." Mark 7:34 How it must have saddened the heart of Jesus to walk through this world — and see so much human misery! There is a story of a sculptor who wept as he saw at his feet — the shattered fragmen... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 20. Desire for Place and Power

"They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest." Mark 9:33-34 Something is wrong when we have done that through the day — which we are ashamed to tell Chris... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 21. The Child in the Midst

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children — you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child — is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:2-4 Th... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 22. For His Sake

"He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, He said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me" Mark 9:36-37 This saying of Christ is rich enough to be studied long and deeply. To receive a child in a certain way — is to receive C... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 23. Little Deeds of Love

"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name because you belong to Christ — will certainly not lose his reward!" Mark 9:41 It seems indeed astonishing — that God should keep note of such a little thing, as the giving of a cup of water to a thirsty Christian. It shows how dea... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 24. Mortifying Sin

"If your hand or your foot causes you to sin — cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled — than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire!" Matthew 18:8 Our life is so full of temptation and peril — that even its best things may become st... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 25. The Joy Set before Him

"As the time approached for Him to be taken up to Heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem!" Luke 9:51 There were a great many painful steps to take before our Lord could reach this blessed hour and be received up to Heavenly glory. The immediate future was full of unfathomable struggle, loss,... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 26. Go Forward

"Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem!" Luke 9:51 We do not know what lies before us in life. Some great sorrow or anguish may be awaiting us tomorrow; but it casts no gloom over our spirits today — because we are ignorant of it. So us not knowing the future — is a merciful provision in our lives.... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 27. An Open Fountain

"If any man thirsts — let him come unto Me, and drink." John 7:37 Every word here is full of meaning! "If" marks the one condition to which the Savior's invitation is addressed. Of course, if we do not thirst — then we will not care to come to the well and drink. Souls are dying all around us, not b... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 28. Words of Life

"No one ever spoke the way this man does!" John 7:46 In all of literature — there are no words like those which Christ spoke. We remember what wonderful power his words had. One of them dropped upon the wild sea — and quieted it in a moment; another touched the blind man's eyes — and opened them; an... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 29. Experience the Best Evidence

"Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" John 7:51 Nicodemus asked for justice for Jesus, and pleaded that He should not be condemned without a fair hearing. The same principle of justice should appeal now to men who are uttering hostile opinions of Chris... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 3. Deaf and Dumb

"At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly!" Mark 7:35 It is a great thing to have deaf ears opened. In many places in the Bible we find the words, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." This suggests that there are people who have no ears, and also... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 30. No Longer Captives

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 Even among the followers of Christ, there is still much bondage because of ignorance of the truth. Superstitious people are in terror of certain imagined dangers — but their terror instantly vanishes when they learn the truth. ... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 31. Christ's Yoke True Freedom

"We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone." John 8:33 The illusion of freedom, while one is really in chains, is not altogether rare. A great many people living in sin imagine they are the only free people there are. They have thrown off the restraints of religion and of law... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 4. The Lord will Provide

"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat." Mark 8:2 This word of Christ shows first, how earnest the people were in their desire to be with Christ. They had been three days with Him, and even when their provision was exhausted — they woul... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 5. Help in Time of Need

"Do you have eyes — but fail to see, and ears — but fail to hear? And don't you remember?" Mark 8:18 There is nothing unreasonable in expecting a man with two eyes, when walking through an art gallery — to see the beautiful pictures that hang upon the walls. Why were his eyes given to him — if he is... Read More
J.R. Miller

August 6. Divine Guidance

"He took the blind man by the hand, and led him outside the village." Mark 8:23 That was a very gentle thing to do. Let us look very closely at the picture — Jesus is leading a poor blind man along the street. What thoughts does it start in our minds? The blind man represents each one of us in our s... Read More

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