Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wells, John (1623-1676)
WELLS, JOHN (1623–1676), puritan divine, son of Hugh Wells, plebeius, of London, was born on 29 Jan. 1622–3, and was admitted into Merchant Taylors' school on 11 Sept. 1634. Thence he proceeded to St. John's College, Oxford, where he matriculated on 3 July 1640. He was elected a fellow of his college in 1643, took the degree of B.A. on 7 May 1644, and was created M.A. on 14 April 1648. He was one of the London ministers who in 1648 declared, in a petition to General Fairfax, their abhorrence of all violence against the person of the king. For several years he held the vicarage of St. Olave Jewry, London, from which he was ejected for nonconformity in 1662. He died in June 1676.
His works are: 1. ‘A Prospect of Eternity; or Mans everlasting condition opened and applyed,’ London, 1655, 8vo (really published on 10 Oct. 1654). 2. ‘The Practical Sabbatarian: or Sabbath-Holiness crowned with Superlative Happiness,’ London, 1668, 4to. 3. ‘How we may make Melody in our Hearts to God in Singing of Psalms,’ printed in Dr. Samuel Annesley's ‘Supplement to the Morning-Exercise at Cripplegate,’ 2nd edit. 1676, p. 174. This and another ‘morning exercise’ by him on the ‘Fall of Man’ have been several times reprinted.
[Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 24490, f. 104 b; Burrows's Register of the Visitors of the Univ. of Oxford, p. 550; Calamy's Account of Ejected Ministers, p. 39, and Contin. p. 58; Dunn's Memoirs of Seventy-five Eminent Divines, p. 93; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714; Kennett's Register, p. 780; Palmer's Nonconf. Memorial, i. 171; Robinson's Register of Merchant Taylors' School, i. 137.]