_Baronius_ is of Opinion, that the above-mentioned Law was procured by _Damasus_, who, finding his Clergy no longer awed by the Spiritual Sword, had recourse to the Temporal: for the Temporal, adds he, though in the Emperor’s Hands, was given by our Saviour to St. _Peter_ and his Successors, as well as the Spiritual[1029]. Thus he puts at once both Swords into the Popes Hands, though he has not yet been able to allege one single Instance of their having either. They got both, 'tis true, in After-ages; and we shall see, in the Sequel of this History, how they came by them. But that Law, says _Baronius_, was read in all the Churches of _Rome_. And so have others been, when they concerned the Clergy, and were addressed to, though not procured by, the Bishop of that City[1030]. Besides, as _Damasus_ loved Pomp and Grandeur, it is not at all probable, that he was instrumental in the enacting of a Law, which deprived him of the main Fund to support them, the Generosity of the _Roman_ Ladies. [Sidenote: _It is extended to sacred Virgins, and to Bishops._] Two Years after, that is, in 372. the Law I have mentioned above was extended by the same Prince, _viz._ _Valentinian_, to the sacred Virgins and Bishops, so as to exclude the former from the Right of giving, and the latter from that of receiving, any thing whatsoever by way of Donation, Legacy, _&c[1031]._ But this Law, with another still more severe, published Twenty Years afterwards by the Emperor _Theodosius_, was abrogated by the Emperor _Marcian_ in the Year 455. as I shall have Occasion to relate hereafter. [Sidenote: _The primitive Rigour and Discipline utterly neglected at_ Rome.] In the mean time I cannot help observing with Astonishment, how early the primitive Rigour of Discipline and Manners was utterly neglected and forgotten by the Ecclesiastics of _Rome_; how early the most exorbitant Luxury, with all the Vices attending it, was introduced among them, and the most scandalous and unchristian Arts of acquiring Wealth universally practised. They seem to have rivalled, in riotous living, the greatest Epicures of Pagan _Rome_, when Luxury was there at the highest Pitch. For _Jerom_, who was an Eye-witness of what he writ, reproaches the _Roman_ Clergy with the same Excesses, which the Poet _Juvenal_ so severely censured in the _Roman_ Nobility, under the Reign of _Domitian_. And how much more worthy were the former of the severest Censure, not only in regard of their Calling, and the Religion they professed, teaching them to curb and subdue all irregular Passions and Appetites, but from this aggravating Circumstance, that the Estates they so squandered and wasted were not their own, but the Patrimony of the Poor, the Substance of the Orphans, Widows, and unhappy Persons, whom, under the Cloke of Religion, they robbed of their just Inheritance! And herein they conformed to the Example of their Chief, who, finding an inexhaustible Fund in the Generosity of the _Roman_ Ladies to support