Thoughts on Public Prayer by Samuel Miller Review
Continuing our look at books on prayer, this week's book is Thoughts on Public Prayer by Samuel Miller. Miller isn't a familiar name to many of us, and he wasn't to me before I picked up this book, but he's a man whose work deserves real respect.
Who was Samuel Miller?
Samuel Miller (1769–1850) was a Presbyterian minister and a longtime professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he became one of the important figures in the seminary's history. He had a high view of Scripture and was willing to enter controversy when he thought it necessary. The biography in the Sprinkle Publications edition shows a man who pastored, taught, wrote and still guarded his sleep, a lesson in time management in itself.
This was the last book Miller wrote before his death, and there's something about a writer's last book. It carries the wisdom of a whole life.
What's in it
The book moves from introductory remarks to the history of public prayer, the claims of written liturgies, frequent faults in public prayer, the characteristics of a good public prayer, and finally the best means of growing in it.
The history chapter covers practices like praying toward the east, prayers for the dead, prayers to the saints and to the Virgin Mary, prayers in an unknown tongue, responses in public prayer, and posture. That last section convicted me. Both Miller and Isaac Watts (whose Guide to Prayer we looked at the week before) argue that sitting is not a fitting posture for prayer.
The final chapters are where the book shines. Miller writes about how long our prayers should be, what they should include, how ministers and congregations should pray, and how to encourage one another in prayer. More than once I thought, "Why have I never considered this?"
Should you buy it?
There are many books on prayer, but this one gives a whole volume to public prayer, and I don't know a better book on that subject. If you pray in public at all, whether as a pastor, a small group leader or anyone asked to pray in church, read this book. The Sprinkle edition includes the biography I mentioned; the Banner of Truth edition will match the rest of your shelf.
Soli Deo Gloria!
