27 January 1850 A.D. Memorial to Dr. Samuel Miller of
Princeton Theological Seminary
Archivist. “January 27:
Memorial to Dr. Samuel Miller (1850).” This
Day in Presbyterian History. 27 Jan
2015. http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2015/01/january-27-memorial-to-dr-samuel-miller-1850/.
Accessed 27 Jan 2015.
January 27: Memorial to Dr. Samuel Miller (1850)
A Life of Prayer and
Practice.
Late
in the month of January, 1850, the Rev. William Buell Sprague performed the
difficult task of saying goodbye to an old friend, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller
of Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Miller had died early that month, on
January 7th, and now it was Sprague’s duty to bring this tribute in praise to
God for a life well lived.
Rev. Sprague’s memorial was subsequently
published, under the
title, A Discourse, Commemorative of the Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D., late
Professor in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, delivered in the Second
Presbyterian Church, Albany, on Sabbath evening, January 27, 1850 (Albany, Erastus H. Pease
& Co., 1850).
Note: I don’t see where Sprague’s discourse
can be found on the Web at this time, but if you care to have a copy, please
write to me [archivist {AT} pcahistory /DOT/ org].
We present here just a small, but interesting
portion of Sprague’s memorial concerning Samuel Miller:—
He
possessed, in a high degree, the devotional spirit. No one could hear him pray
without being struck with the humble, grateful, child-like temper that marked
his supplications. There was a reverent freedom, an elevated fervour, in his
approaches to the throne of grace, which showed that he was engaged in his
favourite employment; and we felt that the fire which was burning so brightly
in the lecture-room or the sanctuary, had been kindled in the closet. It was
not necessary that one should be personally acquainted with his private
religious habits, to feel perfectly assured that he was eminently a man of
prayer; for his public devotional services proved it, as truly as the shining
of Moses’ face proved that he had been on the Mount. And what he exemplified so
well in his own character, he affectionately and impressively urged upon
others, and especially upon his pupils. Many a student can testify that the
last interview which his revered professor held with him, previous to his
leaving the seminary, was concluded by his offering up a fervent prayer that
God’s blessing might attend him in all coming time, and throughout a coming
eternity.
Dr.
Miller was distinguished by a benevolent spirit, in connection with a well-directed
Christian activity. I have already said that he possessed a large share of natural benevolence;
but I refer here to that higher quality which is one of the fruits of the
Spirit, and is habitually controlled and directed by Christian principle; and
of this, I may safely say, he was a bright example. He walked constantly in the
footsteps of Him who went about doing good. He watched for opportunities to do good; —
good to the bodies and souls of men; — good to those near at hand and to those
afar off. Without very ample pecuniary means, he was still a liberal
contributor to the various objects of Christian benevolence that solicited his
aid; and, in some instances, I know that he volunteered the most unexpected and
generous benefactions. His benevolence, however, did not reserve itself for signal
occasions; but was manifested in his daily intercourse with society and in
connexion with all the little affairs of life. Indeed he seemed always to be
acting in obedience to the impulses of Christian good will; and if an
opportunity presented to confer innocent pleasure, much more substantial
benefit, upon any of his fellow creatures, even the humblest, — provided no
paramount interest required his attention, he deemed it an occasion not
unworthy of his consideration and his efforts.
It was
one great advantage that he possessed above many other good men, that his
Christian life was ordered with the strictest regard to system. His purposes of
good were formed, and his means of accomplishing them arranged, so as to
occasion no perplexing interference. You would often find him greatly pressed
with engagements which, with his feeble health and advanced age, he scarcely
felt adequate to meet; but you would never find him thrown into an inextricable
maze and not knowing what to do next, for want of due forethought and
calculation. It was surprising to many that he accomplished so much, in various
ways, in his last years: the secret of it was that he worked to the full
measure of his strength and did everything by rule.
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