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 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.
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showing from 251 to 300 of 773 articles
January 27. Daily Duty
"The shepherds went back to their flocks" Luke 2:20
They might have been so enraptured with the sight of the Christ-child, that they would not have cared to go away again to their own dull work in the fields. Some people in their spiritual ecstasies, f ... read more
January 28. Upright Devotion
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was just and devout" Luke 2:25
He was just in all his dealings with men — and devout in his dealings toward God. It takes both of these elements to make true religion.
Some people are just — a ... read more
January 29. Are We Ready
"And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." Luke 2:26
It is a fearful thing for anyone to see death — before seeing Christ. Death is terrible. It is a valley of shadows. It us ... read more
January 3. Bearing Witness to Christ
"He was not that Light — but was sent to bear witness to that Light." John 1:8
The mission of every Christian is likewise to bear witness to the Light. The Bible says that the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord; but in our natural, unregenerate ... read more
January 30. Asleep in Jesus
"Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your Word." Luke 2:29
No one is ready to die in peace — until he has seen Christ; but when he has seen Him, he needs no further preparation for dying. He may never have looked upon any of ... read more
January 4. Rejecting Christ
"He came unto his own — but his own did not receive him." John 1:11
The picture represents Christ coming with infinite grace to those He loved, and to His own nation; only to be rejected by them and turned away from their doors. This was one of the s ... read more
January 5. Receiving Christ
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name — he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12
The people who shut their doors on Christ — always shut out great blessings; those who open to Him — let all heaven's love a ... read more
January 6. The Incarnation
"The Word was made flesh — and dwelt among us." John 1:14
We must notice that it is the same Person who was in the beginning, who was God, and who made all things — who is here said to have become flesh. The Jesus of the gospel story — is the God ... read more
January 7. God Revealed in Christ
"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side — He has revealed Him." John 1:18
We never can know God — except through His Son; there is no other possible revelation of Him. There is no ladder by which to ascend t ... read more
January 8. A True and Holy Life
"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
It makes a great de ... read more
January 9. The Test of Life
"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
This is a beautiful ... read more
July 1. The Touch of Faith
"Jesus turned around in the crowd and asked: Who touched my clothes?" Mark 5:30
How did he know that one touch — amid all the jostling of the crowd? The multitude were close about Him, pressing up against Him. The disciples even thought it strange th ... read more
July 10. Herodia's Revenge
"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod" Matthew 14:6
It was deemed disgraceful even in that country and in those days, for a woman to show herself at all in a hall of revelry and carousal. Then to perform such a ... read more
July 11. A Royal Coward
"The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted" Matthew 14:9
Herod called himself a king — and yet see what a poor slave he was, what a craven coward! He was sorry he had made the oath ... read more
July 12. Death of John the Baptist
"And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison." Matthew 14:10
This seems a sad end for this holy man's life. After a few months of faithful preaching, he was cast into a dungeon, where he lay for a year, and where he was beheaded as a felon. To us it i ... read more
July 13. Tell Jesus
"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught." Mark 6:30
That is just what we should always do — when we have been trying to do any service for our Lord. We should do it as well as we can — and then go and te ... read more
July 14. Quiet Resting-Places
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31
How thoughtful Jesus is for the comfort of His disciples! He never wants to overwork them. He provides seasons and places of rest for them all along the way. One of these "quiet ... read more
July 15. Divine Compassion
"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." Mark 6:34
Here we have a window through which we catch a glimpse of the heart of Jesus. Every scene of sorrow touched Him. It is a gr ... read more
July 16. The Barley Loaves
"He took the five loaves." Matthew 14:19
We are not surprised that a disciple asked, of the five loaves and two fish, "What are these for so many?" What a little way they will go in feeding such a multitude! Why bring out this poor, paltry store at all ... read more
July 17. Straining at the Oars
"He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." Mark 6:48
Jesus always sees our toils and distresses in this world. We do not see Him — and sometimes we think that He has forgotten us; but that is never true. He is ne ... read more
July 18. Never Forgotten
"He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night — He went out to them, walking on the sea." Mark 6:48
It was a long night for the tempest-driven disciples; they were in great distres ... read more
July 19. Christ Walking on the Sea
"When they saw Him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking He was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw Him!" Mark 6:49-50
It seems strange to us, that the disciples would ever have been afraid of their own Master. They had be ... read more
July 2. Jairus' Daughter
"While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead!' they said." Mark 5:35
So it seemed that Jesus had tarried too long on the road. To us it may appears that He ought not to have stoppe ... read more
July 20. Peace in Storm
"Then He got into the boat with them — and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded!" Mark 6:51
When Jesus comes to us — our trouble ceases. At His bidding — the wildest storm instantly becomes a calm. The trouble itself may not go away fr ... read more
July 21. One Thing Needful
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life." John 6:27
We would call a man very foolish who, in building a great and costly house, would look only after the outside, spending large amounts of money in exterior decorati ... read more
July 22. The Work of Faith
"This is the work of God — that you believe on Him whom He has sent." John 6:29
People are puzzled to know how they can eat spiritual bread. They cannot see it, nor take it into their hands. When they are told to work for the food that endures to ete ... read more
July 23. The Bread of Life
"The Bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven" John 6:33
No bread which grows on the earth — will furnish food for a human soul. In all our worldly strivings and ambitions — we are thinking only of our perishing part, we are looking only after ... read more
July 24. Spiritual Food
"I am the bread of life! He who comes to me shall never hunger" John 6:35
How is Christ, bread? We understand what the bodily needs — are those which common bread satisfies. What in the soul corresponds to these cravings? The most intense of the soul ... read more
July 25. A Welcome for All
"All whom the Father gives Me — will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me — I will never cast out!" John 6:37
We need not worry ourselves trying to harmonize the two parts of this verse; we can believe them both, and find great comfort and joy i ... read more
July 26. Our Security
"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day!" John 6:39
There is not a shadow of doubt in the Christian's security. There is not a broken or weak link in the chain whic ... read more
July 27. Pharisaism
"The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat, unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing â holding to the tradition of the elders." Mark 7:3
The religion of the Pharisees consisted not in love to God, and in disposition, character, and conduct â ... read more
July 28. Corban
"But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me, is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of G ... read more
July 29. What Defiles?
"What goes into a man's mouth — does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth — that is what makes him 'unclean.'" Matthew 15:11
There are many applications of this principle. The food we eat does not affect our moral character. No e ... read more
July 3. Not Dead — but Sleeping
"Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead, but asleep." Mark 5:39
The Christian should not sorrow as others do. Christ has brought the truth of immortality out into clear light. We ought to familiarize our minds with the Christian conc ... read more
July 30. He Could Not Be Hidden
"Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet He could not be hidden." Mark 7:24
The fame of Christ had gone out too widely over the whole country, for Him to travel anywhere without ... read more
July 31. Silence, Not Denial
"But He did not answer her a word." Matthew 15:23
There is something very remarkable in this silence of Christ. Usually He was quick to hear every request made to Him by a sufferer. Scarcely ever had anyone to ask twice for a favor. His heart was as se ... read more
July 4. Words of Wonder
"When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. 'Where did this man get these things?' they asked." Mark 6:2
They could not help being astonished, for Christ's words were full of wisdom. "No man ever spok ... read more
July 5. Only a Carpenter
"Isn't this the carpenter?" Mark 6:3
Certainly; yet that refutes nothing. It only helps to prove the claims of Jesus, to be the Son of God. If he had been a learned rabbi or philosopher, it might have been said that he had received His wisdom from men; ... read more
July 6. The Secret of Power
"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases" Luke 9:1
The first thing is always to come to Christ Himself. We can do nothing — until we have been to Him. We should take eve ... read more
July 7. What We can do for Others
"He sent them to preach." Luke 9:2
Apostles are not the only people to whom Christ gives this same commission. He wants everyone whom he saves — to go out and preach the gospel to others. Christian boys and girls can preach by living a sweet and beau ... read more
July 8. Home Missions
"Whatever house you enter into, there abide." Luke 9:4
The place to carry the gospel is right into people's homes. We must take it down along the streets and alleys, and over the fields and hills, entering every door, and telling the old, old story by ... read more
July 9. The Missionary Spirit
"They departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere" Luke 9:6
A great many people do not do this. They come to Christ and hear His command — but they do not go, or at least they do not preach and heal. They do not ... read more
June 1. Waverers
"What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?" Luke 7:24
The picture is of a man wavering and unstable, easily swayed and bent from uprightness. That is what a good many men are. A reed grows in soft mud by the water's edge. T ... read more
June 10. Covetousness
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses." Luke 7:15
This is one of the red flags which our Lord hung out — which most people nowadays do not seem to regard much. Chri ... read more
June 11. Heart Hardening
"As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the wayside, and the birds came and ate it up." Matthew 13:4
How are human hearts beaten into a hard wayside? A child's heart is sensitive to every impression. But as it grows older, the thousand influenc ... read more
June 12. Rootless Grace
"Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." Matthew 13:5-6
There is a thin covering of ... read more
June 13. What of the Root?
"But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." Matthew 13:6
A root is very important in a plant or a tree. One may take a green branch from a living tree and set it in the ground, and for a little whil ... read more
June 14. What are the Thorns
"Some fell among thorns — and thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." Mark 4:7
The thorns had been chopped off — but their roots were still in the ground. Then as the seed began to grow, so did the thorns; and growing faster and mor ... read more
June 15. Golden Grain
"The sower sows the word." Mark 4:14
The human heart is only the soil. Its natural products are thorns and briers. These grow without sowing and without cultivation. We do not need to be taught — in order to be wicked. But if good things are to grow ... read more
June 16. Hidden Lights
"Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?" Mark 4:21
No one would think of doing such a thing. People always set a lamp where it will give the most light. It would be very absurd to cover it up so ... read more
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