_A. D. 362._--Saint Martin, born of heathen parents, when he was ten years old, went, contrary to the will of his parents, to the meetings of the Christians, embraced Christianity and was baptized when he was eighteen years old. Being now a Christian, he desired to be discharged from the military profession into which he had been brought by his parents; hence he said to the apostate Emperor, Julian, that it was not lawful for him to fight, because he was a Christian. But as the Minorite, _Thomas van Heerentaals_, in his _Mirror of the Ten Commandments and Seven Sacraments_, gives a somewhat fuller account concerning St. Martin, and especially of baptism as practiced at that time, we shall make a short extract from it. He says: “In former times it was customary to administer holy baptism but twice a year, namely, on Easter eve and on Pentecost eve; except in cases of necessity, which was fourfold: 1. In a siege. 2. In danger of martyrdom. 3. In peril at sea. 4. In dangerous sickness. In such cases they baptized all, and at all times, that no one might die without baptism. But when these four reasons did not exist, baptism was administered only on the two abovementioned days, and that with great solemnity and dignity, and all who were admitted to baptism, had attained the years of understanding; even St. Martin, that holy man, was a catechumen for six years--from the time he was twelve, until he was eighteen years old--before he received baptism. _P. J. Twisck, Chron., 4th book, page 110, col. 1, 2._ _A. D. 363 and 364._--In the time of Julian the apostate there lived and shone as bright lights, various excellent men, whose learning and piety it is not necessary to extol, since it is sufficiently known. They gave expression to their orthodox convictions by word and by deed, especially with regard to the matter of baptism, that it ought to be administered after previous instruction, upon faith and repentance. At the same time, A. D. 363, there lived Ambrose, who is stated to have been born of Christian parents. His father’s name was also Ambrose, while that of his mother was Marcellina. He, too, was not baptized until the day on which he was chosen bishop of Milan, after having been instructed in the catechism, that is, in the doctrines of the faith.[103] See concerning this, _Tract van den loop der wereld, by F. H. H._, printed 1611, _page 47, 48_, from _Paul, de vita Ambrosii. Naucler. Chron. Generat. 13_. [103] Bullinger says that before the days of Ambrose (A. D. 363), Aurentius rejected infant baptism. See, _P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 114, col. 2_, in the annotation. D. Vicecomes (_lib. 2, cap. 6_) records, from Nolanus, concerning Ambrose, that in his time, Frigitil, Queen of the Marcomans, having heard from a Christian man, what good things were said of Ambrose, believed in Christ, and recognized him (Ambrose) as his minister. To her, Ambrose wrote an excellent epistle. See, _Bapt. Hist., page 462_.