The Treatment he met with at _Rome_, from that Clergy, and _Syricius_ himself, must have been very unworthy of a Man of his Character, since it obliged him, as he himself writes[1339], to quit the City in great Haste, and pursue his Journey to _Nola_. Two Years afterwards _Ruffinus_ came to _Rome_, and there met with a very different Reception. For _Syricius_ received him, tho’ violently suspected of _Origenism_, with the greatest Marks of Esteem and Affection; and, after having entertained him a whole Year, gave him Letters of Communion at his Departure. Of this _Jerom_ complains, as if Advantage had been taken of the Bishop of _Rome_’s Simplicity, to impose upon him[1340]. I will not pretend, as some have done, to justify _Ruffinus_; but cannot help observing, that such a Charge ought not to be admitted against him, upon the bare Authority of _Jerom_, or of those, who have only copied what he writ. ----- Footnote N39: The _Roman_ Martyrology contains the Names of such Saints as may be publicly worshiped, and of the Places where they died, with a succinct Account of the most remarkable Feats which they are supposed to have performed. I said, _who are publicly worshiped_; for in private every one is allowed to honour, worship, and invoke whom they please, provided they have sufficient Grounds to believe them in _a State of Happiness_, or _in the Way to it_, that is, in Heaven, or in Purgatory; for the Souls in Purgatory may be privately worshiped and invoked; nay, most of the Popish Divines are now of Opinion, that even a canonized Saint may be still in Purgatory. When Learning began to revive, many gross Mistakes were discovered in the _Roman_, as well as in the other Martyrologies, some being placed among the Saints, and consequently worshiped as Saints, who had been notorious Sinners; and others daily invoked, who had never existed. That the Church therefore might be no longer misled in her Worship, _Gregory_ XIII. thought it necessary to interpose his _infallible Authority_; and, having accordingly, ordered _Baronius_ to revise and correct the _Roman_ Martyrology, he confirmed, by a special Bull, dated the 14th of _January_ 1584. all the Emendations, Additions, Corrections, _&c._ which _Baronius_ had been pleased to make, threatening with _the Indignation of the Almighty God, and of his Apostles St._ Peter _and St._ Paul, all who should presume to make any further Alterations. And yet many Alterations have been made since _Gregory_’s Time; and that many more might and ought to be made, has been sufficiently shewn by many Protestant, and some Roman Catholic, Divines. ----- [Sidenote: Jerom _and_ Ruffinus _quarrel_.]