Cambridge. Upon his leaving the university, he entered into
the ministerial office, and appears to have preached at Fowey
in Cornwall. In the year 1630 he became rector of Little
Kayne in Essex, where he continued till the commencement
of the civil wars. He omitted the use of the cross in baptism
and wearing the surplice, for which he was brought before a
justice of peace ; but whether the prosecution was dropped,
or he was punished for this two-fold marvellous crime, we are
not able to learn. " His omission of the cross and si.irplice,
and his friendship with Stephen Marshall, plainly intimate,"
says Dr. Walker, " that he was something inclinable to the
puritans ;"t and we venture to add, that the former alone
sufficiently proves that lie was a puritan and a nonconformist.
He was nevertheless brought into many troubles during the
civil wars, by the committee of scandalous ministers. Ap-
pearing before the committee, he was sequestered for preach-
ing and publishing, " That the king, being the supreme
magistrate, hath inmiediate dependence upon God, to whom
only he is accountable— that the title of the Lord's anointed is
proper and peculiar to the king : that royal birth is equivalent
to royal unction : that authority is a sacred thing, and essential
to the king's person: that resistance is against the way of
God, destructive to the whole law of God, inconsistent with
the spirit of the gospel, the perpetual practice of Christianity,
the calling of ministers, common prudence, the rule of
* Wood's Athena? Oxon. vol. ii. p. 82, 83.— Walker's Att<=mpt, part ii.
p. 6. + Walker's AUempt, part ii. p. 361,
SYMMONDS. Ill
humanity, nature itself, reason, the oath of allegiance, and
even the late protestation." These charges, which Mr. Sym-
monds acknowledged, are expressed in his own words. He
was further charged with having defamed the parliament,
affirming, " That the parliament would force the king to
comply with their laws : that they raised a force against the
king ; and that they are not to be obeyed, though they com-
mand according to the \\ ill of God, if it be not according to
the command of the king: and pressing his auditors to
believe whatsoever is set forth in the king's declarations;
because a ditine sentence is in his mouth, and he cannot
ERR : and that if David's heart smote him for cutting oft'
Saul's garment, what would it have done if he had kept liim
from his castles, towns, and ships?" For these things,
the lords and commons in parliament assembled gave an
order, dated March 3, 1642, that his living should be
sequestered into the hands of Mr. Robert Atkins, A. M. who
was appointed to preach every Lord's day till further
order.*
Mr. Symmonds, besides his sequestration, endured many
other hardships. His accusers, if sufficient credit be due to
Dr. Walker, were persons of very inferior character. His
family experienced some unkind usage ; and he was forced
to flee for safety into various parts of the kingdom, and at
length into France. The doctor, however, is certainly very
incorrect in asserting, " that Mr. Symmonds brought all these
miseries upon himself, because he could not go hand in hand
with them in rebellion." Many of the royal clergy, who inter-
meddled not with state affairs, but remained neuter, continued
in the peaceable possession of their livings. He died in the
year 1649, and his remains were intened in St. Peter's church,
Paul's- wharf, London. " He was a person of great piety,
courage, wisdom, and learning ; an excellent and a profitable
preacher ;"t and tliough he suffered much during the wars,
through his zeal for the royal cause, he was so strict in his
life, and so plain, piercing, and profitable in preaching, that
he was looked upon as a puritan.} He published " A loyal
Subject's Belief," 1643 ; and " A Vindication of King
Charles."
• Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 67, 68.
+ Ibid, part ii. p. 358— 361.— Fuller's Worthies, part ii, p. 29
% Uoyd'H Memoiresj p. 614, 687.
112 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
Andrew Wyke was a zealous minister of tlie baptist
persuasion, and apprehended m the county of Suffolk, tor
preaching and dippmg. When he was brought before the
committee of the county, to be examined about his autlionty
to preach and the doctinies he delivered, he refused to give
any account of either. He alleged, that a freeman of England
■was not bound to answer any such interrogatories, either to
accuse himself or others ; but he signified, that if they had
any thing against him, they ought to biing forward their
charge, and produce their evidence. This was, indeed, con-
sidered as gieat obstinacy, and as high contempt of their
authority; therefore he was immediately sent to jail.*
It does not appear how long he remained in prison ; but
during his confinement a pamphlet was published either by
himself or some of his friends, entitled, " The Innocent in
Prison Complaining ; or, a true Relation of the Proceedings
of the Committee of Ipsv\'ich and the Committee of Bury
St. Edmunds in the county of Suffolk, against Andrew Wyke,
a witness of Jesus in the same county, who was committed
to prison, June 3, 1646."+ This work gives a circumstantial
account of his adversaries' proceedings against him, and
exclaims bitterly against the committee for its persecuting
principles and illegal conduct. Withholding from others the
blessing of christian liberty, came with an ill grace from those
persons, who, only a few years before, while they groaned
under the iron rod of the tyrannical prelates, had earnestly
pleaded for the same blessing.
March 16, 1650, Mr. Wyke, together with several others,
was committed to prison at Coventry, to be tried for his
crimes. He is represented as having kissed a soldier three
times, and said, " 1 breathe the Spirit of God into thee."
During his confinement, he preached every Lord's day at the
gate of the prison, when multitudes of people stood in the
street to hear him. But how long his tribulations continued,
or when he died, we are not able iearn.t
Henrx Tozer, B. D. — This learned person was born at
North-Tawton in Devonshire, in the year 1602, and educated
in Exeter college, Oxford, v.here he took his degrees, and
Was afterwards chosen sub-rector and fellow of the house.
Having entered, into the ministerial office, it is said, that he
* Edwards's Gangrasna, part iii. p. 109, 170.
+ Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 235.
t Whitlocke's Mem. p. 430,432.
TOZER. 115
was useful in moderating, reading to novices, and lecturing in
the chapel. He was an able and a laborious preacher, had
much of the primitive religion in his sermons, and seemed to
be a most precise puritan in his looks and life, on which
account his sermons and expositions in the churches of St.
Giles and St. Martin in Oxford, were much frequented by
the puritanical party. In the year 1643, he was nominated
one of the assembly of divines, but declined his attendance,
'' choosing," says Wood, " to remain at Oxfoid, and preach
before the king or parliament, rather than venture himself
among rigid Calvinists." He was a noted theologian, and
having preached at Christ's Church before his majesty, or at
St. Mary's before the parliament, lie was appointed by the
chancellor of the university, in 1646, to take his doctor's
degree ; but this in like manner he refused.*
Mr. Tozer was a divine of puritan principles; yet, on
account of his unshaken loyalty and the use of the Common
Prayer, after it was set aside, he experienced some trouble from
the opposite party, of which the following account is given
by the pen of Dr. Walker : — " Dr. Hakeweli having retired
from the college, the government," says he, " of course
devolved upon Mr. Tozer as sub-rector ; nor did he betray or
disgrace his post, but shewed himself a stout ciiampion against
the illegal visitation, boldly and resolutely opposed it, main-
tained in the highest degree the rights of the college-, and
made a noble stand in defence of his own freehold, and that
of the other fellows, when that mock-reformation was set on
foot, after the surrender of the garrison to the parliament.'*
March 21, 1647, 1 find him upon a citation before the visitors
at Merton college, having been accused to them of " continu-
ing the Common Prayer in the college, after the ordinance
for the directory came in force : Also of having sent for and
admonished one of the house, for refusing to attend the
chapel-prayers on that account." He had also constantly
shewed " the utmost dislike to those of the parliament faction,
and always countenanced and patronized the loyalists of his
college. Although the visitors had thought fit to put off the
term ; yet, as Dr. Fell, the vice-chancellor, had proceeded to
open it at the usual time in the university, without any regard
to that order, so did Mr. Tozer also in his private college.
** These informations," says our author, " the visitors had
* Wood'i Atbcnse Oxon. vol, ii, p. 71, 72.
TOL. III. I
114; LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
gotten from the spies and setters of the house ; for which
they were afterwards rewarded with the fellowships of those
who by that means were ejected. A most excellent encou-
ragement to informers ! And let me add," says he, " that in
direct contradiction to the very letter of the statutes, they
. ordered one of them to receive the rents of the college, and
soon after made him sub-rector, though he was at that
time, or only a few months before, no more than batchelor
of arts."
To the above criminations Mr. Tozer desired time to put
in his answer, which was granted him. When he returned
his answer, he disowned their authority, saying, " That the
things about which he was questioned, concerned the disci-
pline of the college ; and that he had some time before
answered in the name of the whole college, that they could
not, without peijury, submit to any other visitors than those
to whom their statutes directed them." This answer being
unsatisfactory to the visitors, they ordered him to be ejected,
and committed the execution of the sentence to the soldiers
of the garrison. However, Mr. Tozer still kept possession
of his college for some time ; and, June 29, 1648, the visitors
sent for him again, and in direct opposition to the statutes
of the house, peremptorily forbade him to proceed to an
election the day follow ing ; and to effectually prevent him,
they expelled him both from the college and the university.
He refused after all to deliver up the keys of the college and
to be perjured, when they proceeded to apprehend and
imprison him. There is one circumstance more concerning
his suffermgs which, says our author, must not be omitted,
viz. " That the second of the same month, he was dragged
out of St. Martin's church by the soldiers, and forbidden to
officiate there any more ; because, forsooth ! he preached
pestilential doctrine." The visitors, however, afterwards
moderated their sentence ; allowed him the use of his
chamber in the college j and appointed him the profits of a
travelling fellowship, to be allowed him for three years :
" but," our author adds, " whether it was ever paid him, or
not, I cannot say."* Upon the appointment of this allowance,
he went to Holland, and became minister to the English
merchants at Rotterdam, where he died September 11, 1650,
aged forty-eight years, and his remains were interred in the
English church at that place. Dr. Thomas Marshall, who
* Walker's Attempt, part ii.p. 115.
LOVE. 115.
succeeded him in the preacher's office, says, " he was always
taken for an honest and a conscientious puritan."*
His Works. — 1. Directions for a Godly Life, especially for com-
miuiicating: at tlie Lord's Table, 1628. — 2. A Christian Amendment,
a Sermon on IN ew-j cars-day at St. Mary's CIj. in Ox. on 2 Cor. v. 17.,
1633. — 3. Dicta et facta Christi ex quatonr Evangelistis coilecta, et
in ordiiie disposita, 1634. — 4. Christian Wisdom, or the Excellency,
&c. of true Wisdom, a Sermon on 1 Kings x. 24., 1639. — 5. A Sermon
on John xviii. 3;, 1G40.
Christopher Love, A.M. — This person was the son
of Mr. Christopher Love, born at Cardiff in Glamorganshire,
in the year l6l8, and educated at New-inn-hall, Oxford. He
was the youngest child of his parents, and the son of their
old age ; his mother, who was of a respectable family, was
fifty years old when he was born. Though they never in-
tended him for the ministry, they gave him a good education.
From a child he was remarkably fond of books ; and though
his parents were too indulgent to him, allowing him too great
liberty for play and sinful recreations, he never neglected his
learning. He felt greatly concerned for his own improvement ;
therefore he devoted much of his time, both night and day,
to his beloved studies.
He was fifteen years of age before ever he heard a sermon.
At this period, Mr. Erbery going to the town, he was induced
through curiosity to hear him ; and he, with some others, was
greatly entertained with the novelty of it. Although he went,
as he used afterwards to observe, only to see a man in a
pulpit ; yet, there God was pleased to meet with him, and,
by that sermon, gave him such a sight of his sins and his
undone condition, that he confessed he returned home, as he
expressed it, " with a hell in his conscience." When he
came to his father's house, being dead to all his former carnal
pleasures and sinful pastimes, his father greatly wondered at
the sudden change ; and, concluding him to be seized with
some strange fit of melancholy, recommended him to asso-
ciate and play with his old companions, but he refused. He
could now take no pleasure in their company. His father
sometimes advised him to go to gentlemen's houses, and
attend his usual games ; but the very thoughts of them were as
daggers in his heart ; therefore, he begged to be excused.
Mr. Love having fully relinquished the card-table, desired
* "Wood's AthenjB Oxon. vol. i. p. 1?.— Biog. Britan. vol. vi, p. 4076.
116 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
leave of his father, upon the next lecture day, to go to church;
but tliis he absohitely refused, conceiving it to have been the
occasion of his present sadness. Also, to prevent his attend-
ance at church, his father locked Inm up in a high chamber
of the house, thinking by this means to contine him there till
the service was over. Such, however, was his courage, and
his desire to hear the word, that he made his escape by tying
a cord to the window, and sliding by it down the side of the
house ; and so went to the church, where the Lord was
pleased so to deepen his convictions, that it ended in a sound
conversion of his soul to God. Upon his return home, he
found his father greatly exasperated. His situation was now
deplorable. While his earthly parent was exceedingly dis-
pleased, the thoughts of an almighty and offended God were
almost insupportable. It was no snjall aggravation of his
distress, that for some time he iiad not a friend on earth to
whom he could unbosom his complaint. Afterwards he
made known the anguish of his mind to Mr. Erbery, who was
instrumental in further promoting his edification and benefit :
nevertheless the Sovereign Disposer of all events was pleased
to suspend the manifestations of his love, and keep him under
a cloud for many years.*
About the same time some others, who had been his com-
panions in vice, were brought to an acquaintance with God.
They who had been familiar associates in games and sinful
pleasures, now often assembled together for the purpose of
fasting and prayer. That they might not neglect their school-
hours, nor displease their paients, they met together in the
night season, when their parents thought they were in bed.
For many months they held these nocturnal assemblies,
setting apart two nights in the week for these devotional exer-
cises. Mr. Love's father seeing him continue in this course,
appeared to draw his affection from him, and looked upon him
as a hopeless youth. He who had been called a young
gamester, was now stigmatized a young puritan. Mr. Erbery
perceiving his distressed situation, waited upon his father, and
requested him to allow his son to come to his house, and he
would promote his improvement in learning, and take proper
care of him, to which his father gave his consent.
In this new situation he continued for some time, to his
great advantage and comfort, of which he retained a lively
sense to the day of his death. His father going to London,
procured a place for him as an apprentice, entered into aa
* Sloanc's MSS. No. S945.
LOVE. IIT
agreement with the master, and even paid the stipulated
premium : but young Love was exceedmgly averse to the
situation, and earnestly entreated his father to send him to
Oxford. Though his father consented to his wishes, he did
it in displeasure, withholdmg his pecuniary aid ; and, durmg
his abode at the university, he was supported partly by his
mother, and partly by Mr. Erbery. He who was appomted
to endure many troubles, began thus to bear the yoke in his
youth. Upon his arrival at Oxford, not knowing any person
in the place, nor whom to choose for his tutor, as he sat by
the lire at the inn, there came several young scholars, whose
discourse was wholly against the puritans, railing against
them, and cursing them, especially one Mr. Rogers, whom
they stigmatized an arch-puntaii, and declared there was none
other besides him who was head of any house in Oxford.
Having heard what they had to say, he resolved to make
some further inquiries concerning this Mr. Rogers, h.oping
that he was just such a tutor as he wanted ; and after
gaining satisfactory information, he intrusted himself to his
care and tuition.
While, at the university, IN'Ir. Love had but little to subsist
upon ; but he was careful of what he received, and extremely
provident of his time, making suitable improvement in his
studies. He sought the acquaintance of religious persons, .
who, in those times of danger, were particularly cautious
whom they admitted into their society. He enjoyed, how-
ever, little or no comfort for several years. God seemed to
keep at a distance from him, which caused him to sigh and •
mourn. The remembrance of his former misspent life was to
him a source of constant and bitter lamentation. In the
midst of these painful conflicts, he walked as in the valley of
the shadow of death. The terrors of death and hell com-
passed him about, and the thoughts of God made hiin afraid.
The apprehensions of death were an astonishment to him.
Under these afflictive terrors and convictions, he desired to
live, as he used to say, " that he might have a little longer
respite out of hell." Having little or no hope of escaping
future misery, he feared that every step he took would launch
him into endless torment. The waves and billows passed over
his soul, and had he not been supported by the grace of Christ,
he would have been overwhelmed in the mighty storm. Amidst
all these painful conflicts, he lifted up his heart to God iu
devout prayer and supplication, and was at length enabled by
faith to look within the vail, and obtain a glimpse of God, as
a father and a friend, through Jesus Christ. He chose rather
118 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
to suffer affliction with the people of Gocl, than to live in the
pleasures of sin. He was enabled to come nnto tlie J^ord,
and to cast anchor on the promise of his word ; and then he
enjoyed comfort. \
He knew that grace was absolutely necessary to make a
good christian; so learning, in his opinion, was of great
importance to make an able minister of the gospel. He was,
therefore, constantly assiduous to enjoy both. He was a
good proficient in the school of Christ, as well as in the
school of the prophets. The Lord greatly blessed his close
application to his studies ; and, to qualify him for making
known the glorious gospel of the blessed God, he filled
his earthen vessel with the treasures of wisdom and know-
ledge.
During the above painful conflict, he was generally looked
upon as melancholy. As he had but few friends to whom he
could unbosom his complaint, most persons were totally
unacquainted with the cause of his dejection. At the usual
time of attending his meals, as I have heard him say, (the
writer of his life observes,) he used to come to his meat,
when he would scarcely take any notice of those who sat
with him at table, but wondered that they could eat and drink
with such merry hearts. While at the table, he thought the
moments long till he again retired to his study, where he
spent nearly all his time, devoting certain hours every day to
his academical pursuits, and the rest to the study of the holy
scriptures. He allowed himself very little sleep, and little or
no time for recreation. He was steady in his attachment to
the house and ordinances of God, and conscientiously exact
in all the duties of private devotion. For his zeal in the
cause of God, he was often prosecuted in the bishops' courts;
but none of these things moved him, or damped his religious
ardour.*
Mr. Love having entered the ministerial function, became a
very popular and useful preacher, but was persecuted for
nonconformity. Even during his abode at Oxford, for
refusing in convocation to subscribe Laud's superstitious
canons, he was expelled from the house, never to sit there
any more. Upon leaving the university, he went to London,
where he was invited by the sheriff, who was a person of
eminent piety, to become his domestic chaplain. In this
situation he was exceedingly beloved, and made instrumental
in the conversion of several in the family. He received an
* Sloane'ii MSS. No. .^945.
LOVE. 119
invitation to become lecturer at St. Ann's, Aldersgate ; but
the Bishop of London opposed his settlement, and for three
years refused his allowance. Mr. Love's popularity exaspe-
rated the minds of his enemies, and he no sooner entered
upon his public ministry, than he was silenced from
preaching.
He had, indeed, certain conscientious scruples against the
ordination of the church of England, and, therefore, went
into Scotland, with a view to have obtained presbyterian ordi-
nation ; but there he met with a disappointment. That
church had decreed to ordain none besides those who should
settle among them ; nevertheless, large offers were made to
him, in addition to ordination, if he would have continued in
the north. On his return from Scotland, he was invited by
the aldermen and other worthy persons of Newcastle, to
preach for them on a Lord's day ; and, in his sermon in the
afternoon, he openly expressed his sentiments against the
errors in the Book of Common Prayer, and the superstitious
ceremonies in the national church. For this, he was imme-
diately committed to tiie common gaol, a most filthy place,
among thieves and murderers, having nothing but straw to lie
upon. During his confinement, the people flocked to the
prison ; and not being admitted to his company, he preached
to them through the grates of the prison. Afterwards, his
friends being allowed to go into the prison, they cleaned it
for his comfort, and there he preached to all who came, and
was made remarkably useful. Having suffered confinement
for some time, he was removed to London, and tried in the
court of king's-bench, and acquitted. About the com-
mencement of the national troubles, for maintaining in his
Sermon the lawfulness of defensive war, in certain cases,
against the civil magistrate, he was accused of treason and
rebellion, but was publicly acquitted, with the recovery of
damages.*
During the wars, Mr, Love was chosen to be preacher to
the garrison of Windsor, then under the command of Colonel
John Venn ; on which account the royalists nick-named him
" Venn's principal fireman at Windsor." Notwithstanding
this foul calumny, his ministerial labours were greatly esteemed,
even by those who differed from him in matters of ceremony ;
and, our author adds, " I am bold to say, that no man was
more generally beloved than he was, and, I believe, as great a
seal was set unto his ministry as God doth usually set to the
* Sloane'9 MSS. No. 3946.— Mr. Love's Trial, p. 63. Edit. 1651.
120 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
ministry of any of his servants." When God visited the toWH
and castle with the plague, and many were cut off, he still
continued in the place ; and, not afraid of the ravages of
death, he visited the abodes of the afflicted and dying where-
ever he heard of them. To promote their comfort and sal-
vation, he exposed himself to infection and death; and
through this period of extreme danger the Lord protected