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Rh lively innocent, and not to slay the righteous with the wicked; but to put a stop to the effusion of Christian blood, and, in His own good time, to restore us to the blessing of public peace. Since, then, I do not absent myself from Church out of any contempt for authority, or out of any vain presumption of my own goodness, as though I needed no solemn humiliation, and since I endeavour, according to my poor ability, to humble myself before God, and do earnestly desire that he may give this war such an issue as may most effectually conduce to His own glory, I hope it will not be charged upon me as a sin, but that it will please Almighty God, by some way or other, to satisfy my scruples, and to accept of my honest intentions, and to pardon my manifold infirmities."

It was probably a month or two before the birth of John that Samuel, the eldest boy, was placed at the school of Mr. John Holland, at Epworth, that there might be no break or loss of time in his preparation for Westminster School, and he was the only one of the brothers who received any other assistance on entering at a public school than that which could be given by his parents. John was probably a delicate babe, as he was baptized by his father when only a few hours old. He received the names of John Benjamin, after two baby boys (the tenth and eleventh children) who had preceded him and died in infancy. He was the only one of the family who had a second name, and it was never used, as he was simply called Jack, or Jacky, at home, and never signed himself otherwise than plain John.