| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 9 |
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The sermons that adapt themselves into publication as newspaper articles and then for insertion in books for popular reading are scarce. But Dr. Miller could write them – in fact, he seemed unable to write any other kind. Long discipline in writing simply and long and varied experience in loving men, women and children fitted him to be author of more “best sellers” among religious books than anyone else.
Simple writing was a hobby with him. To an associate in the editorial office he once said, “I would like to see you make these articles so simple that an eight year old child cannot but understand them.” His work showed how completely he had kept this ideal before his own mind. One whose business it was to estimate the space required for manuscripts by various authors, soon learned that a thousand words by Dr. Miller would need one fifth less space than one thousand words by almost any other writer – all because he was so fond of word of one syllable! Simple language was illuminated by apt and copious illustration. Many of his illustrations were given in a single sentence. Most of these were illustrations that no other writer would ever have used – because they were drawn from homely life, and because they were so simple that no one else thought of the application that was so plain to Dr. Miller. Yet no sooner did he use them than they were copied by numerous other authors and used in sermons everywhere.
A reader of Dr. Miller’s books discovers that in every chapter, sooner or later, he says something comforting. This characteristic was noticeable during the days of the Civil War, when the papers printed his first messages. Letters from the front were apt to contain a message of cheer. When he could get time he would write a full article on the one theme that took possession of him as he went to hospital cots or to soldiers dying on the battle field, or as he came in touch with grieving parents. In 1862 he wrote to The United Presbyterian “A Study on Sorrow,” in which he said:
“I had spent the afternoon of Wednesday with two or three sore sufferers. In conversation with them I had spoken freely of their trials and their comforts… Comfort is one of life’s best blessings. Even the comfort of earthly friends is soothing and sweet. But the real comfort which the Holy Spirit brings to the heart of the Christian mourner is infinitely better… It is better to go into the furnace and get the image of Christ out of the fire, than to be saved from the fire and fail of the blessed likeness.”
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