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The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3 - Contents
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    V. M’Neile-Stresses Call Out of Babylon

    HUGH M’NEILE (1795-1879), dean of Ripon, was born at Ballycastle, Antrim. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he received his B.A. in 1815, his M.A. in 1821, and his B.D. and D.D. degrees in 1847. He had studied for the bar at Kings Inn, Dublin, but severe illness overtook him in Switzerland in 1816, where his life was saved. This turned his mind to the ministry, and in 1820 he was ordained to the curacy of Stranorlar. While preaching at Percy Chapel, in London, he attracted the attention of Henry Drummond, who in 1822 presented to him the rectory of Albury, in Surrey, where Drummond lived. While at Albury, M’Neile frequently preached in London, chiefly at St. Clement Danes Church, his eloquence invariably attracting large congregations. In 1834 he was appointed curate of St. Jude’s, Liverpool, and received the canonry at Chester Cathedral. In 1868 he was transferred to the deanery of Ripon. 86Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 12, p. 690.PFF3 454.2

    M’Neile held strongly evangelical opinions and strenuously opposed the Church of Rome. His vigorous public utterances involved him in frequent public discussions and much news paper warfare. He wrote a dozen volumes, including The Times of the Gentiles (1828), Popular Lectures on the Prophecies relative to the Jewish Nation (1830), Prospects of the Jews, and Every Eye Shall See Him. He was a participant in the Continental Society proceedings and presided at the Albury Park Prophetic Conference in 1826.PFF3 454.3

    1. SEPARATE FROM THE ABOMINATIONS OF BABYLON

    M’Neile’s The Abominations of Babylon sermon was delivered before the Continental Society in 1826. Based on Revelation 18:4, it defines Babylon as not only “Popery in general,” 87Hugh M’Neile, The Abominations of Babylon, p. 3. but “the mother of harlots”-embracing under one general term “the whole of the anti-Christian systems of the western empire.” From these the people of God are to be called out. “It is the province of the CONTINENTAL SOCIETY to carry it through the length and breadth of Babylon.” 88Ibid., p. 4.PFF3 454.4

    He points out that the early church, though undaunted by pagan persecution, fell under the emoluments and glories of the world lavished upon it by Constantine. The sole authority of the Word was laid aside, and the opinions and traditions of men substituted. The church was made the interpreter. The Reformation at length restored the Bible standard and swept away the human rubbish. But, alas, the spirit of the Reformation “has fled,” and “the spirit of popery permeates the ecclesiastical councils.” From this spirit the people of God are to come out. “Half separations will not do.” There is to be no compromise with subtle infidelity. 89Ibid., pp. 4-8.PFF3 455.1

    2. BABYLON EXPRESSLY DEFINED AS PAPACY

    Another sermon, The Character of the Church of Rome, at St. Andrews, Liverpool, in 1836, is based on the prophetic picture of Revelation 17. Again identifying “persecuting, blasphemous” Babylon, M’Neile asks and answers thus: “Where, and what is that power? The answer is, POPERY!” He adds:PFF3 455.2

    “There has been nothing at all like it, except Popery; and nothing conceivable can be more like it, than Popery has been, and is, and must continue, until the glorious appearing of a greater than Cyrus, the true everlasting destroyer of all persecutors, and deliverer of all Saints.” 90Hugh M’Neile, The Character of the Church of Rome, p. 37.PFF3 455.3

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