J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)

Read freely text sermons and articles by the speaker J.R. Miller in text and pdf format. 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.

showing from 201 to 250 of 773 articles

Glimpses at Life's Windows
      No one can ponder the great theme of immortality for an hour—and not feel the stir and glow of a better, nobler life in him. In our more commonplace moods, we are like men shut up in a narrow cell. We see for the time nothing but the little patch of dus ... read more

God in our Common Life
      We sometimes forget that God has anything to do with the small events of our every-day lives. Men seem to be living a life of their own, without reference to God, without being influenced by him, without receiving help from him. They are not conscious of ... read more

GOD'S RESERVE OF GOODNESS
      God never gives all he has to give. The time never comes when he has nothing more to bestow. We never reach the best in divine blessings; there is always something better yet to come. Every door that opens into a treasury of love, shows another door into ... read more

God's SLOW Making of us
      God does not make us all at once. The process is a long one, running through all the years of our life, however many these years may be. God begins making us when we are born into the world, and his work on us and in us goes on continuously unto the end o ... read more

Great in God's Sight
      Few men have had higher honor, than that which was conferred upon John the Baptist in Christ's estimate of him. "Among those who are born of woman--there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist," were the strong words which fell from the lips of th ... read more

HABITS IN RELIGIOUS LIFE
      Some conscientious people are anxious because their religious life has become such a matter of habit, that they are not conscious of any voluntary efforts to live right. They feel that their acts and services cannot be pleasing to God, when rendered witho ... read more

Hands: a Study
      "Take my hands, and let them move At the impulse of Your love." Frances Havergal Man is the only being that has such wondrous hands; the hand, therefore, is one of the marks of man's rank and of his power. With his hand he conquers nature; with h ... read more

HAVING CHRIST IN US
      The Scriptures make a great deal of Christians having Christ in them. Christ himself speaks of abiding in his people, and of his life as flowing through them as the life of the vine flows through its branches. The figure of the body is used, believers bei ... read more

He Makes Me Lie Down
      "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:1-3 Life is not all activity, work and ... read more

Help for the Day!
       We may safely let our life write its own record "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward!" Matthew 10:42 We need not troub ... read more

Helpful People
      Usefulness is the true measure of living. Our Lord made fruit—the test of discipleship. What is fruit? Is it not something which the tree bears to feed men's hunger? In discipleship, then—fruit is something that grows upon our lives—which others may ... read more

Helping by Prayer
      We are taught to pray for others. This is one of life's highest and plainest duties. Paul exhorts that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men. James exhorts us to pray for one another, adding that "The prayer of a rig ... read more

Helping with the Problems
      Earnest young people have many problems. Life is all new to them. It is a voyage over new seas. It is a pilgrimage through a new country. At every point they are reminded, "You have not passed this way before!" Every day brings its new questions. At every ... read more

HELPING WITHOUT MONEY
      There are many good people, with benevolent hearts and kindly impulses, who think they cannot do much good in the world, because they have no money to give. They envy those who have wealth at their disposal, and who can so easily lift off the burdens of t ... read more

Home Memories
      We are all making in our todays—the memories of our tomorrows. Whether these shall be pleasant or painful to contemplate, depends on whether we are living holy or sinful. Memory writes down everything, where we shall be compelled to see it perpetually. ... read more

How Not to Show Sympathy
      One of the suggestions to the guests at a noted sanitarium is, "Do not ask a neighbor the question: How are you feeling today?" There is a great deal of wisdom in this hint. Indeed it contains a whole philosophy. There are a great many people who always i ... read more

HOW THEY STAY WITH US
      DEATH is ever bearing away the fresh and fair and beautiful ones of earth—and leaving hearts bleeding, and homes desolate. Apart from the religion of Christ, there is no light in the darkness of bereavement. The best that philosophy can do—is to try t ... read more

How to Live a Beautiful Christian Life
      "Whoever claims to live in Him—must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6 "Leaving you an example—so that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21 We have only successfully acquired the art of living a Christian life—when we have learned to appl ... read more

Humility and Responsibility
      There are some rare and beautiful virtues—in whose shadow, evils lurk. Thus humility is one of the loveliest of the Christian graces. It is an ornament which in the sight of God, is of great price. It is an element of character, which wins the admiratio ... read more

In Green Pastures - April, May, June
       In Green Pastures by J. R. Miller, 1890 "Handfuls of Grass for the Lord's Hungry Sheep" Daily readings for every day in the year "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside ... read more

In Green Pastures - CHOICE EXCERPTS
       In Green Pastures by J. R. Miller, 1890 "Handfuls of Grass for the Lord's Hungry Sheep" Daily readings for every day in the year "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besi ... read more

In Green Pastures - January, February, March
       In Green Pastures by J. R. Miller, 1890 "Handfuls of Grass for the Lord's Hungry Sheep" Daily readings for every day in the year "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside ... read more

In Green Pastures - July, August, September
       In Green Pastures by J. R. Miller, 1890 "Handfuls of Grass for the Lord's Hungry Sheep" Daily readings for every day in the year "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besi ... read more

In Green Pastures - October, November, December
       In Green Pastures by J. R. Miller, 1890 "Handfuls of Grass for the Lord's Hungry Sheep" Daily readings for every day in the year "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besi ... read more

In the Beginning God
      No life can be complete, however much of beauty it may have in it—which leaves out God. No path can be a safe one, however sheltered it may seem—in which God is not leading us. We never can find our way home—unless we are guided from heaven. We shou ... read more

INFLUENCE
      One who knew Emerson well said, "There is one quality I noticed in him, as more striking than in anyone else I ever saw—and that was the effect he had upon all who came into his presence. It seemed as if when a man had looked into his eyes, he was immed ... read more

Intimate Letters on Personal Problems
      Intimate Letters on Personal Problems J.R. Miller, 1914 FOREWORD Many who have been permitted to read letters written by Dr. Miller to their friends have said hungrily, "If only I might have had such a message!" The longing is now to be grat ... read more

Is God Always Kind?
      The Bible takes especial pains to assure us of the everlastingness of God's love. In one passage, for example, it is declared that while even the mountains shall depart, God's loving-kindness shall never depart from his people. The word loving-kindness su ... read more

Is Self-Denial a Mistake?
      One writes in a letter: "A friend of mine was speaking to me about self-denial. She does not think one ought to sacrifice one's self too much, even for one's own family. Often we find one person in a family doing things for another member of the household ... read more

Is Worrying a Christian Duty?
      Not many people seem to think of worrying as a sin. It would almost appear from the universality of the habit, that many regard it as a virtue! Many people almost resent the suggestion that they should be anxious about nothing, as if it were an effort to ... read more

J.R. Miller Quotes
       “Love is always ready to deny itself, to give, sacrifice, just in the measure of its sincerity and intensity. Perfect love is perfect self-forgetfulness. Hence where there is love in a home, unselfishness is the law. Each forgets self and lives for ot ... read more

January 1. In the Beginning
      "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1:1 "In the beginning." Life is full of beginnings. We are now at the beginning of a year. But here is a beginning which carries our thoughts back beyond all years, a ... read more

January 10. God Looks on the Heart
      "In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah . . . and his wife Elizabeth . . . Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." Luke 1:5-6 Of course, this doe ... read more

January 11. Messengers from God
      "And when Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him." Luke 1:12 Yet the angel had come on an errand of love — had come to announce to Zacharias tidings which would fill his heart with great joy. It is often so. All through the ... read more

January 12. Magnificat
      "And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord!" Luke 1:46 No wonder that Mary sang that day. At the shut gate of the garden of Eden, there was a promise given of a Savior; a Savior who would be "the seed of the woman." Ever after that, all along the line ... read more

January 13. The Christian's Joy
      "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior!" Luke 1:47 This is another strain of Mary's song, and it has for us the secret of all deep Christian joy. We have no real and lasting joy — until we are in God's family, and in God as the refuge of our souls. ... read more

January 14. Christ is Mine!
      "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior!" Luke 1:47 It is a great thing when any one can say, "My Savior!" Many people can talk about Christ very beautifully and eloquently. They can linger upon the story of His life, and speak with tender accents of ... read more

January 15. Lowly Service
      "For he has regarded the humble estate of his handmaiden" Luke 1:48 What a beautiful name by which to call one's self! A handmaid is one who devotes herself to the service of another. A young girl is the handmaid of the Lord — when she gives herself ... read more

January 16. He Cares for You
      "The Mighty One has done great things for me!" Luke 1:49 It is astonishing that the mighty God, so great, so holy — should ever think of a poor, lowly sinner on this earth! But does He really? It scarcely seems possible! Only consider how many mil ... read more

January 17. Spiritual Hunger
      "He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent away empty." Luke 1:53 A great many people attend church and Sunday school, where the blessings of grace abound — and yet are "sent away empty." They are not fed. They do not carry ... read more

January 18. The Divine Visitor
      "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people." Luke 1:68 What a beautiful thought it is, that God pays visits to His people in this world! We remember a number of visits He made in the olden times — to Adam and Eve, ... read more

January 19. The Door of Mercy
      "The tender mercy of our God." Luke 1:78 What would we ever have done — if God had not been merciful? There could never have been a soul saved in this world. There is a story of a man who dreams that he is out in an open field in a fierce driving ... read more

January 2. A Plan for Each Life
      "There was a man sent from God." John 1:6 He had his commission from God. He came as God's messenger on God's business. But each one of us is likewise "sent from God" into this world. If we are sent from God — then it is on some definite errand. God ... read more

January 20. The Light of the World
      "To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death" Luke 1:79 Suppose the sun were never to rise again, and the light of every star were put out — what a gloomy world this would be! This is the picture of the world, in a moral and ... read more

January 21. Paths of Peace
      "To guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:79 First, Jesus made the way of peace for us. Sin had destroyed the road to Heaven, leaving only a rough and thorny way for human feet to go upon. There never would have been a path of peace — had not ... read more

January 22. Blessed Night-Watch
      "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them!" Luke 2:8-9 We should notice that it was while these shepherds were at their common, humble work — that they h ... read more

January 23. Good News
      "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." Luke 2:10 Every work of the gospel is a joy-bell. In Eastern poetry, they tell of a wondrous tree on which grew golden apples and silver bells. Every time the breeze went by and tossed the fragrant branc ... read more

January 24. The Christ Child
      "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 1:11 How wonderful this was! We must remember who it was, that was thus born. The birth of another child in this world was nothing strange, for thousands of childre ... read more

January 25. Strange Insignia
      "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12 What a strange sign this by which to recognize the King of glory! The shepherds would not find Him robed in purple garments, like the child of a princ ... read more

January 26. God is Love
      "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14 Yes! Love is the meaning of it all. It tells of the good will of God toward all men. There is a strange medieval legend which illustrates this truth. An infidel knight, ... read more

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