Dr. Miller’s first books were prepared in answer to the clamour of those who heard his sermons on Sunday and read his helpful, stimulating articles in The Westminster Teacher, The Sunday School Times, and other periodical. The first volume was issued in 1880; two final volumes from his pen were given to the public in the fall of 1912, these having been planned and prepared during his last months on earth. In all more than sixty books and booklets were issued, the total circulation during his lifetime being more than two million copies. Not only were they in demand in America and Great Britain, and all the colonies, but in other foreign lands as well. One or more volumes have been translated into German, French, Italian and Norwegian. The claim made by his publishers that Dr. Miller is “the most widely read devotional writer in the world” is well founded.
The reason for this popularity was easily seen by anyone who knew him and his methods of work. During the week he lived close to people. He saw them in their homes and in his office and entered into the deepest secrets of their hearts. On Saturday afternoon and evening he thought over the week, and prepared his sermons for Sunday. On Sunday he gave his people messages that reached their hearts because they were prepared with a sympathetic knowledge of their needs. On Monday, from the sermons of Sunday, articles would be written for the papers. Almost at once after publication messages would begin to come from those who had been helped by reading them. In a few months a new volume would be made up by revising and rewriting the articles which had already served double duty. This volume would not be long out of the publishers’ hands before – from all parts of the world – letters would pour in from readers. Many of these letters would bring heart revelations that inspired fresh sermons and articles and books.
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