Lot 70
Rev. MILLER Sermon, preached in N.Y. [1793] Binding

Estimate: $600 - $800

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Description
Rev. Samuel MILLER A Sermon, preached in New York, July 4th, 1793.

Offered for sale by Adam Langlands of 'Shadowrock Rare Books' - for more information please contact him via email at adamlanglands@gmail.com 

Rev. Samuel MILLER (1769-1850.) A Sermon, preached in New York, July 4th, 1793. Being the Anniversary of the Independence of America: at the Request of the Tammany Society, or Columbian Order.  New York: printed by Thomas Greenleaf, [n.d. but 1793.] . 8vo signed in 4s (7 1/8 x 4 1/2in; 181 x 113mm.), pp. [1-]38. (Lacking final blank.) Circa-1900 green levant morocco gilt, by Thierry S[uccesse]r de Petit Simier, arms of New York City blocked in gilt within a gilt oval at the centre of each cover, elaborate gilt turn-ins, comb-marbled endpapers, gilt edges (slight scuff to upper cover and head of spine).  Provenance: Unidentified early inscription to verso of title; Ursula Juliet Fitz-simon, nee Morgan (1873-1916, niece of J. Pierpont Morgan, inscription front blank dated 1905).

A beautifully-presented copy of this Fourth of July oration, with an interesting provenance. This is a relatively early Tammany related work: the Society was only incorporated in May 1789.  “Samuel Miller was born in Dover, Delaware on 31 October 1769. His father was the Rev. John Miller (1722–1791). Miller attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1789. He earned his license to preach in 1791, [Samuel was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry on June 5, 1793 and was called to the Presbyterian churches of New York City, serving alongside Rev. Dr. John Rodgers and Rev. Dr. John McKnight …], the University of Pennsylvania awarded him a Doctorate of Divinity degree (D.D.) in 1804. From 1813 to 1849, he served as Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government at Princeton Theological Seminary, and was also integral in founding the institution.

Throughout his life, Miller was a vigorous participant in many of the controversies that took place within the Presbyterian Church, including that which resulted in the division of the Church into new and old schools. He was also considered an authority on many of the issues that faced Christians, especially Presbyterians, of his time. Miller is, perhaps, best known for the theological, polemical, and biographical writings he published throughout his life …

Before his death he requested that none of his unpublished sermons should be published after his death. Miller died in Princeton, New Jersey, on January 7, 1850, leaving behind his wife, Sarah Miller, and his children. One son, Samuel Miller, Jr., undertook to write the life of his father, and the two-volume work (Life of Samuel Miller D.D.) was published in 1869.” (Wikipedia). Evans 25823; OCLC  960092339.