Hark! a voice from yonder manger, Soft and sweet, Doth entreat, 'Flee from woe and danger; Brethren, come, from all doth grieve you You are freed, All you need I will surely give you.' Blessed Saviour, let me find Thee! Keep Thou me Close to Thee, Call me not behind Thee! Life of life, my heart Thou stillest, Calm I rest On Thy breast, All this void Thou fillest."{34} [32] "Triumph, ye heavens! rejoice ye with high adoration! Sing to the Lord, to the Saviour, in glad exultation! Angels, give ear! God unto man hath drawn near, Bringing to lost ones salvation. * * * * * King of the Glory! what grace in Thy humiliation! Thou wert a child! who of old wert the Lord of creation. Thee will I own, Thee would I follow, alone, Heir of Thy wondrous salvation. Faithful Immanuel! let me Thy glories be telling, Come, O my Saviour, be born, in mine inmost heart dwelling, In me abide. Make me with Thee unified, Where the life-fountain is welling."{36} [33] A few of the best traditional pieces have been published by Mr. F. Sidgwick in one of his charming "Watergate Booklets" under the title of "Popular Carols." The two next quotations are from this source. [34] Browning's great poem, "Christmas Eve," is philosophical rather than devotional, and hardly comes within the scope of this chapter. [35] The first mention of a season corresponding to Advent is at the Council of Tours, about 567, when a fast for monks in December is vaguely indicated. At the Council of Macon (581) it is enjoined that from Martinmas the second, fourth, and sixth days of the week should be fasting days; and at the close of the sixth century Rome, under Gregory the Great, adopted the rule of the four Sundays in Advent. In the next century it became prevalent in the West. In the Greek Church, forty days of fasting are observed before Christmas; this custom appears to have been established in the thirteenth century. In the Roman Church the practice as to fasting varies: in the British Isles Wednesday and Friday are observed, but in some countries no distinction is made between Advent and ordinary weeks of the year.{2} [36] Anthony Beck, Bishop of Durham, bequeathed to his cathedral a Christmas candlestick of silver-gilt, on the base of which was an image of St. Mary with her Son lying in the crib.