emperor disregarded the warning, and came the next Sunday. Ambrose met him at the threshold of the church, and exclaimed:

"How darest thou lift to God the hands that drip with blood? How take in them the body of our Lord? Get thee away! Like David thou hast sinned, like David repent. Submit to discipline."

The emperor was forced to submit. He returned home and did penance for eight months. He was readmitted to the communion only after he had established a law, "that no sentence of death should be executed until thirty days after it had been pronounced."

This act of discipline was in accord with the bishop's maxim, "The emperor is in the Church, not over it." Yet Ambrose showed such a spirit that Theodosius afterward said of him that he was the only man he knew who was fit to be bishop. That Ambrose was fit may be judged from the following lines taken from a translation of his morning hymn:

"Curb Thou for us the unruly tongue;

Teach us the way of peace to prize;
And close our eyes against the throng
Of earth's absorbing vanities.

O may our hearts be pure within,

No cherished madness vex the soul;

May abstinence the flesh restrain,
And its rebellious pride control.”

If all the bishops of later times had offered such a prayer, the history of the Middle Ages would be quite different.

Ambrose wrote many other hymns, some of which are still extant. The one beginning, "Jesu Redemptor Gentium" was greatly admired by Martin Luther. When he read it he exclaimed, "Now comes the Savior of the heathen.”

This bishop also introduced into the West the mode of singing hymns which became known as the Ambrosian Chant. It was antiphonal in character. St. Augustine thus described its effect upon the hearer: "The voices poured in at my ears, the truth was distilled into my heart, and the affection of piety overflowed in tears of joy."

Two centuries later came Gregory the Great. His life and work, which in some respects were similar to those of Ambrose, will be described in a later chapter.

When Jerome of Prague was led to the stake he sang triumphantly:

"Welcome, happy morning! Age to age shall say; Hell to-day is vanquished, heaven is won to-day!" This hymn, which strengthened the martyr in his last moments, was written by Venantius Fortunatus in the seventh century. In his youth he was a gay troubadour. His gifts, learning, and good nature made him a welcome guest at all the

castles and courts in France. In later life he entered a monastery, and devoted his powers to the service of religion. In 599 he became Bishop of Poictiers. Change of garb and occupation did not change his disposition. He was the same light-hearted, care-free man that he had been before his conversion.

His hymns have been extensively used and greatly admired by the Church. The one quoted above reflects the spirit of the author in its glad strains. The second stanza,—

"Earth with joy confesses, clothing her for spring,
All good gifts returned with her returning King:
Bloom in every meadow, leaves on every bough,
Speak His sorrows ended, hail His triumph now,”-

could hardly have been written by one who saw no beauty in the world.

He wrote also two famous passion hymns; namely, "Spread, my tongue, the wondrous story," and "The royal banner is unfurled." The former is only suitable for use in the Romish Church, but translations of the latter are found in Protestant Hymnals. While they do not have the strength of some hymns, they are in a sweet, flowing meter that is pleasant to the ear.

During the seventh century the Church faced a new danger in the rising power of Mohammed

anism. It robbed her of Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Spain, Northern Africa, and threatened to take Europe also. At some time during this anxious period, Andrew of Crete sought to arouse his fellow Christians to action by writing the stirring hymn:

"Christian, dost thou see them

On the holy ground,
How the troops of Midian

Prowl and prowl around?
Christian, up and smite them,
Counting gain but loss:
Smite them by the virtue

Of the holy cross."

On a cliff, five hundred feet above the River Kedron in Judea, stands the ancient monastery of Mara Saba. Here, in the eighth century, lived three monks, all destined to become famous. One was John of Damascus, the greatest theologian and poet of the Greek Church. His book, "Doctrines of the Orthodox Church," is still considered an authority in the East. He is better known, however, by his Easter Canon. It has been called the "Golden Canon," and the "Queen of Canons." The Greek Church sings it every Easter morning, and the Protestant Church often uses the translation by Dr. Neale :

"The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad!
The passover of gladness,
The passover of God!

From death to life eternal,
From earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over,
With hymns of victory."

St. Comas, John's foster-brother, wrote a Christmas hymn, beginning:

"Christ is born, tell forth His fame;

Christ from heaven, His love proclaim."

The other member of the trio was Stephen, John's nephew. He entered the monastery when only ten years old, and remained there sixty years. Although not so great as his uncle, he wrote a lyric which has blessed many hearts. From the country where the original invitation was given comes the hymn:

"Art thou weary? art thou languid?

Art thou sore distressed?

Come to Me, said One, and coming,
Be at rest."

Each succeeding stanza contains a question and answer concerning the Savior and His claims. The hymn closes with the comforting lines:

"Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
Is He sure to bless?

Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,
Answer, Yes!"