The Heathen _Marcellinus_, after telling us, that _Damasus_ and _Ursinus_ aspired with equal Ambition to the Episcopal Chair, adds this famous Remark, which I shall set down in his own Words: _I must own_, says he, _that when I reflect on the Pomp attending that Dignity, I do not at all wonder, that those, who are fond of Shew and Parade, should scold, quarrel, fight, and strain every Nerve to attain it; since they are sure, if they succeed, to be enriched with the Offerings of the Ladies; to appear no more abroad on foot, but in stately Chariots, and gorgeously attired; to keep costly and sumptuous Tables; nay, and to surpass the Emperors themselves in the Splendor and Magnificence of their Entertainments. But how happy would they be, if, despising the Grandeur of the City, which they allege to excuse their Luxury, they followed the Example of some Bishops in the Provinces, who, by the Temperance and Frugality of their Diet, the Poverty and Plainness of their Dress, the Modesty of their Looks fixed on the Ground, the Purity of their Lives, and the Regularity of their whole Conduct, approve themselves to the eternal God, and all his true Worshipers_[1003]! Thus _Ammianus_. And that _Damasus_ was fond of all that Pomp, Grandeur, and Parade, that he led such a voluptuous Life, as _Ammianus_ here so justly censures and condemns in the Bishops of _Rome_, is not to be doubted, since _Prætextatus_, a Man of the first Quality, honoured with the greatest Employments of the Empire, and zealously attached to Paganism, in conversing familiarly with him, used pleasantly to say, _Make me Bishop of_ Rome, _and I'll immediately turn Christian_[1004]. But, as I shall have Occasion to speak of this Subject hereafter, I shall only observe here, that the Offerings of those devout Women, and other pious Christians, were no better employed in the Days of _Damasus_, than the immense Wealth, which the Church of _Rome_ acquired in After-Ages, by the voluntary Contributions of all the Christian Nations, is disposed of in ours. [Sidenote: _How the Oblations of the Faithful disposed of._] With these Offerings the Bishops of _Rome_ used in more early Times, to maintain the Poor of their own Church, and send the Overplus to other Churches, where the Poor were numerous, and the Offerings small. Of this generous Practice I have mentioned some Instances, that well deserve to be recorded. But when Ambition began to take place of Charity, the Poor were forgotten, and nothing thought of but splendid Equipages, numerous Retinues, princely Apparel, sumptuous Tables, and whatever else could feed the Vanity of these upstart Princes, and put them upon the Level with the greatest Monarchs. To such Purposes were the Oblations of the Faithful perverted. _Baronius_ takes it very much amiss of _Ammianus_, that he should find Fault with the costly Tables and Entertainments of the Popes, since it is manifest from St. _Austin_, that the Christians