406
Was a born—aye, a "heaven-born"—teacher.
Hence, he loved his work as Teacher; he devoted all his rich powers and capacities to it. Lord Napier, once Governor of Madras, is reported to have described him as a 'missionary teacher' known for piety and seal; and that phrase, 'a missionary teacher,' rightly understood, sums up Dr. Miller's great merits as a teacher. With him teaching was the 'mission' of life—the task for which his Maker designed him and to which his Master called him; and it naturally followed that his work was sanctified by piety and inspired by zeal. The poet's definition of teaching as a 'delightful task' was daily illustrated in Dr. Miller's life. Teaching was for him a task with its exacting responsibilities and a delight with its blissful felicities. Alike in preparation, in exposition and in application or illustration, he was almost Herculean in the pains which he took, as he was altogether enviable, one may be sure, in the pure pleasure which he thereby earned for himself.
