Tozer, Henry

Tozer, Henry a learned Puritan divine, was born at. North Tawton, Devonshire, in 1602; was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, and was chosen fellow in 1623. Having taken orders, he was engaged in moderating, reading to novices, and lecturing in the chapel. He was adverse to overturning the establishment of the Church, and in 1643 declined to be one of the assembly of divines. He remained at Oxford, where he preached at Christ Church before the king, and at St. Mary's before the Parliament. He was appointed in 1646 to take his degree of D.D., but declined. Dr. Hakewell, the rector, having left the college, the government devolved on Mr. Tozer, as sub-rector, who manfully opposed the illegality of the parliamentary visitation, and maintained the rights and privileges of the college. In March, 1647-48, he was cited before the parliamentars visitors to answer the charge of continuing the common prayer in the college after the ordinance for the directory (the new form) came in force; for having sent for and admonished one of the house for refusing to attend the chapel prayers on that account. He replied, in effect, "that these matters referred to the discipline of the college, and that they could be submitted to no other visitors, than those mentioned in the statutes," meaning the bishop of Exeter. The visitors ordered him to be ejected, but Dr. Tozer continued to keep possession of the college for some time, and they expelled him from the college and university in June, 1648. He refused to surrender the keys of the college, there being no rector to whom he could legally give them, as a consequence he was imprisoned. After a while he was allowed to remain in his rooms in the college, and to enjoy the profits, of a traveling fellowship for three years. On the strength of this he went to Holland sand became minister to the English merchants at Rotterdam. He died there Sept. 11, 1650. Mr. Tozer published a few occasional sermons, Directions for a Godly Life, etc. (1628, 8vo): — Dictea et Facta Chnisti ex, quatuor Evangelistis collecta (1634, 8vo).