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Presbyterianism: Its History, Doctrine, Government and Worship
Samuel Miller, the first professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government at Princeton Theological Seminary and a prolific author, published this introduction and defense of Presbyterianism in 1835. Originally titled Presbyterianism: The Truly Primitive and Apostolical Constitution of the Church of Christ, Miller covers the basics of Presbyterian belief and practice, grounding his material in the Scriptures primarily and church history secondarily. Dr. Harrison Perkins (PhD, Queen's University Belfast) has annotated Miller's work and tracked down his sources, and the Rev. Mr. Allen Stanton, pastor of Pinehaven Presbyterian Church in Clinton, Mississippi, has supplied a historical introduction of Miller and this book. With these additions to Miller s rich substance, this work is a wonderful primer on the foundations of our tradition in all of its biblical and historical richness.
163 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1835
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About the author
Samuel Miller
254 books6 followersThere are several authors on Goodreads with this name. This is Samuel^^^Miller, the American theologian.
The fourth son of Rev. John and Margaret Miller, Samuel Miller was born near Dover, Delaware on October 31, 1769. He completed studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 1789 and began studying theology under his father's tutelage. Following Rev. John Miller's death in 1791, Samuel moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to complete his theological studies with Charles Nisbet, president of Dickinson College. 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. In 1806, he was named moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, and for several years also served as its official historian.
While in New York, Miller was active not only in the church, but also as an author. His best-known work, the two-volume Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century, printed in 1803, earned him serious attention and acclaim. He published his Letters on the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry in 1807 and wrote a memoir of Dr. John Rodgers in 1813. Also while in New York, Miller served as chaplain for the first regiment of the New York State artillery.
Miller continued his service in New York until 1813, when he was appointed professor of church history and government at the newly established Princeton Theological Seminary. While teaching and preaching, he continued to write and publish. He wrote a memoir of his mentor, Charles Nisbet, in 1840, penned a life of Jonathan Edwards for Jared Sparks' American Biography series, and published numerous speeches and sermons on various topics.
Among his other activities, Miller served as a trustee of both Columbia College and the College of New Jersey, as a founder and president of the New York Bible Society, as a founder of the New York Historical Society, and as a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
On October 24, 1801, Samuel Miller married Sarah Sergeant, the daughter of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, attorney general of Pennsylvania. The couple had ten children, including sons Samuel, Elihu, and John. Rev. Samuel Miller continued in his teaching position at the Princeton Theological Seminary until his death on January 7, 1850.
The fourth son of Rev. John and Margaret Miller, Samuel Miller was born near Dover, Delaware on October 31, 1769. He completed studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 1789 and began studying theology under his father's tutelage. Following Rev. John Miller's death in 1791, Samuel moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to complete his theological studies with Charles Nisbet, president of Dickinson College. 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. In 1806, he was named moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, and for several years also served as its official historian.
While in New York, Miller was active not only in the church, but also as an author. His best-known work, the two-volume Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century, printed in 1803, earned him serious attention and acclaim. He published his Letters on the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry in 1807 and wrote a memoir of Dr. John Rodgers in 1813. Also while in New York, Miller served as chaplain for the first regiment of the New York State artillery.
Miller continued his service in New York until 1813, when he was appointed professor of church history and government at the newly established Princeton Theological Seminary. While teaching and preaching, he continued to write and publish. He wrote a memoir of his mentor, Charles Nisbet, in 1840, penned a life of Jonathan Edwards for Jared Sparks' American Biography series, and published numerous speeches and sermons on various topics.
Among his other activities, Miller served as a trustee of both Columbia College and the College of New Jersey, as a founder and president of the New York Bible Society, as a founder of the New York Historical Society, and as a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
On October 24, 1801, Samuel Miller married Sarah Sergeant, the daughter of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, attorney general of Pennsylvania. The couple had ten children, including sons Samuel, Elihu, and John. Rev. Samuel Miller continued in his teaching position at the Princeton Theological Seminary until his death on January 7, 1850.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 24, 2025
Super fun read. A short and sweet argument that the early church was in essence presbyterian, and that we should be presbyterian. He writes in a way that is just really fun to read, but I guess it wouldn't be as fun to an episcopal.
taking one star off actually for the publisher, who thought that it is OK to put a less than 240p cut-out of Samuel Miller onto the cover without anyone noticing. Do you not have enough money/manpower to at least refine/sharpen the image, or hire someone to make an artistic rendition? Also, some pages look weirdly cut, as if the margins were bled over. And finally, the publisher had multiple footnotes that just didn't need to be there. You don't need to add an editorial footnote explaining that Miller was not actually quoting a work but just a hypothetical interlocutor. Seems pretty evident from the text itself.
taking one star off actually for the publisher, who thought that it is OK to put a less than 240p cut-out of Samuel Miller onto the cover without anyone noticing. Do you not have enough money/manpower to at least refine/sharpen the image, or hire someone to make an artistic rendition? Also, some pages look weirdly cut, as if the margins were bled over. And finally, the publisher had multiple footnotes that just didn't need to be there. You don't need to add an editorial footnote explaining that Miller was not actually quoting a work but just a hypothetical interlocutor. Seems pretty evident from the text itself.
May 12, 2023
This is an excellent treatment of the basics of biblical Presbyterianism. However, I would not recommend it as an introduction to the subject for your average Christian believer. It is highly recommended for the Presbyterian minister who has some experience with reading older works of theology and will strengthen and clarify convictions. I appreciated how he made his case with both evangelical humility and deep conviction.
June 12, 2022
Great book on Presbyterianism.
September 20, 2022
Samuel Miller's book wouldn't work well as an introductory text to Presbyterianism in the current day, but it is a good read to help shape your view of Presbyterian church government and its importance to the Christian life. The book is divided exactly as the subtitled says: History, Doctrine, Government, and Worship. I thought the sections on History and Government were particularly good.
It could also be called: Against the Papists, the Prelates, and the Independents, as Miller enthusiastically argues the supremacy of the Presbyterian system over and above all other forms of church government, which he categorizes as: (1) Papal (spiritual monarchy), (2) Episcopal (spiritual prelacy), (3) Independency (spiritual democracy), and (4) Presbyterianism (spiritual republicanism). Miller's zeal for Presbyterianism is infectious, and even if you disagree with his doctrine, you have to appreciate the joyful and devoted spirit he brings to the task. This Presbyterian zeal seems to have been common in the 18th and 19th century, a time when church government in general was given more attention and treated as more central to the work of the church than it is now.
"[F]irmly believing that all the leading features of the Presbyterian system are more in accordance with the word of God, and with the usage of the purest and best ages of the Christian Church, than any other, we feel bound to maintain them; to teach them to our children, and to bear testimony in their favor before the world."
It could also be called: Against the Papists, the Prelates, and the Independents, as Miller enthusiastically argues the supremacy of the Presbyterian system over and above all other forms of church government, which he categorizes as: (1) Papal (spiritual monarchy), (2) Episcopal (spiritual prelacy), (3) Independency (spiritual democracy), and (4) Presbyterianism (spiritual republicanism). Miller's zeal for Presbyterianism is infectious, and even if you disagree with his doctrine, you have to appreciate the joyful and devoted spirit he brings to the task. This Presbyterian zeal seems to have been common in the 18th and 19th century, a time when church government in general was given more attention and treated as more central to the work of the church than it is now.
"[F]irmly believing that all the leading features of the Presbyterian system are more in accordance with the word of God, and with the usage of the purest and best ages of the Christian Church, than any other, we feel bound to maintain them; to teach them to our children, and to bear testimony in their favor before the world."
March 7, 2023
Overall, Miller's work is an easy to read and digest overview of Presbyterian, but best suited for someone already familiar with the subject. It would not serve well as an introduction. As he states in his conclusion, the primary appeal is to the Word, and Presbyterianism dare not adopt any practice without its warrant, as far too frequently, it leads to errors in the church. This is not fundamentalism, nor legalism, but rather wisdom.
By Section Review:
Pt1: History. Miller correctly locates the origin of Presbyterianism in the OT: The Elders alongside Moses, the higher courts, and the connectionalism of the Synagogues. Miller continues this into what's seen in the NT, including the Jerusalem Synod. From here, he shows Presbyterianism's predominance in the early Church, its continuation during the rise of the Prelacy, Democracy, and persisting into the modern era.
Pt.2 Doctrine: Miller satisfactorily defends Calvinism from Scripture and its predominance through history (particularly among all the Reformers). He also exposes the errors of Arminianism and Pelagianism, and some of the logical fallacies they are guilty of. However, this section would not take the place of a more pointed work, such as R.C. Sproul's masterful book, "Chosen by God".
Pt.3 Government: imo. Too brief. Miller briefly shows scriptural arguments against Episcopalianism, Congregationalism, and Independent. While a faithful interpretation of scripture, it would likely not be sufficient for convincing a friend holding a counter position.
Pt.4 Worship: Miller tackles many of the superstitions, practices, and celebrations some churches have taken up in error, mostly as they relate to Episcopalianism and Catholicism. The section is perhaps best summarized by his statement, "and when asked, as we sometimes are, why we do not adopt them? We have only to say, that our desire is to keep us closely as we can to 'the simplicity that is in Christ; ' [2 Corinthians 11:3] that to indulge superstition and trivial things, is as really censurable, and principal, as in things of more importance; and that 'the beginning of evil is like the letting out of water.'
By Section Review:
Pt1: History. Miller correctly locates the origin of Presbyterianism in the OT: The Elders alongside Moses, the higher courts, and the connectionalism of the Synagogues. Miller continues this into what's seen in the NT, including the Jerusalem Synod. From here, he shows Presbyterianism's predominance in the early Church, its continuation during the rise of the Prelacy, Democracy, and persisting into the modern era.
Pt.2 Doctrine: Miller satisfactorily defends Calvinism from Scripture and its predominance through history (particularly among all the Reformers). He also exposes the errors of Arminianism and Pelagianism, and some of the logical fallacies they are guilty of. However, this section would not take the place of a more pointed work, such as R.C. Sproul's masterful book, "Chosen by God".
Pt.3 Government: imo. Too brief. Miller briefly shows scriptural arguments against Episcopalianism, Congregationalism, and Independent. While a faithful interpretation of scripture, it would likely not be sufficient for convincing a friend holding a counter position.
Pt.4 Worship: Miller tackles many of the superstitions, practices, and celebrations some churches have taken up in error, mostly as they relate to Episcopalianism and Catholicism. The section is perhaps best summarized by his statement, "and when asked, as we sometimes are, why we do not adopt them? We have only to say, that our desire is to keep us closely as we can to 'the simplicity that is in Christ; ' [2 Corinthians 11:3] that to indulge superstition and trivial things, is as really censurable, and principal, as in things of more importance; and that 'the beginning of evil is like the letting out of water.'
December 14, 2024
This is the second Samuel Miller book I’ve read this year (the other being “The Ruling Elder”) and I have to say, Miller is one of my favorite American theologians. As an engineer, I appreciate his methodology and thoroughness of his analysis. This book is an even easier read than “The Ruling Elder” and makes an excellent case for Presbyterians polity over and against Episcopalian and Congregational polity.
The book has a super easy structure to follow. There are four primary chapters which each argue for Presbyterianism: a chapter on history, then doctrine, then government, and finally on worship. The chapter in the history of Presbyterianism read like a condensed version of Millers ruling elder book. Suffice to say, Millers historical analysis is excellent, thorough, and makes a very strong case. The chapter on doctrine I found the least interesting but Miller essentially is arguing more verbally for the five points of Calvinism being biblical and most connected to the reformation. The chapter on church government is the one everyone should read since it is here Presbyterianism is compared with other systems of church government. The final chapter on worship is really focused on specific things common in Anglican churches in Millers time that Presbyterians rejected based on the regulative principle. Probably the most thought provoking sub section is when Miller argues for Protestants to celebrate no holiday but the weekly sabbath and even levels a polemic against Christmas and Easter.
There are no shortage of books on church polity but Millers method of argument and clarity of thought is what makes this book so excellent. If anyone wants to research to understand Presbyterian polity, this is a great first book before moving on to “The Ruling Elder”.
The book has a super easy structure to follow. There are four primary chapters which each argue for Presbyterianism: a chapter on history, then doctrine, then government, and finally on worship. The chapter in the history of Presbyterianism read like a condensed version of Millers ruling elder book. Suffice to say, Millers historical analysis is excellent, thorough, and makes a very strong case. The chapter on doctrine I found the least interesting but Miller essentially is arguing more verbally for the five points of Calvinism being biblical and most connected to the reformation. The chapter on church government is the one everyone should read since it is here Presbyterianism is compared with other systems of church government. The final chapter on worship is really focused on specific things common in Anglican churches in Millers time that Presbyterians rejected based on the regulative principle. Probably the most thought provoking sub section is when Miller argues for Protestants to celebrate no holiday but the weekly sabbath and even levels a polemic against Christmas and Easter.
There are no shortage of books on church polity but Millers method of argument and clarity of thought is what makes this book so excellent. If anyone wants to research to understand Presbyterian polity, this is a great first book before moving on to “The Ruling Elder”.
July 13, 2022
Good snapshot of Presbyterianism and does a good job of balancing positive definition with polemics. It is evident that the primary disagreement is with prelacy or Episcopalianism rather than with Congregationalism and Independency. Nevertheless, I wish he spent more time engaging with Congregationalist and Independent arguments. Sometimes the polemics get a little redundant (e.g. he repeats basically the same line repeatedly to the effect of "[A doctrine of the Church of England] is nowhere countenanced by the Word of God." In addition, there seems to be a little bit of a Whiggish interpretation of history, and a narrow selection of quotations from the Fathers to prove the historical arguments. Overall though, a very good introduction to the Presbyterian church: its history, doctrine, government, and worship. The portion on doctrine is especially good in explaining the doctrines of grace.
January 22, 2023
Excellent. I was intrigued by Miller's argument for Presbyterianism in the writings of Ignatius of Antioch. Most modern interpreters of Ignatius take for granted the argument that he held to Prelacy. This is a helpful little work.
May 20, 2025
This is an excellent vindication and defense of Presbyterian government, doctrine, and worship that shows the firm biblical foundation on which we stand. This would be great (in a simplified form) for a new members class.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews