Safety in the Midst of Danger - Puritan Nathaniel Hardy

In 1643 he was appointed preacher to the church of St. Dionis, Backchurch, in Fenchurch Street, where he drew together a congregation chiefly of presbyterians. In 1645 he was present for the treaty of Uxbridge (negotiations between royal and parliamentary commissioners). He was led by the arguments of Henry Hammond on the chief champion on the episcopalian side to alter his views. On his return to London he preached a sermon of recantation; from that point he was convinced about bishops, though he attended meetings of a presbyterian as late as 1651. He continued to officiate at St. Dionis; under the Commonwealth he maintained, without interference from the authorities, a 'Loyal Lecture,' at which monthly collections were made for the suffering clergy, and he usually preached a funeral sermon on the 'Royal Martyrdom.' In 1660, being one of the ministers deputed to attend the commissioners for the City of London, he went over to the Hague to meet Charles II, and preached a sermon which before him. On the king's return to England, he was made one of the royal chaplains in ordinary, and frequently preached in the Chapel Royal.

On 2 August 1660 he was created D.D. of Hart Hall, Oxford; on 10 August was made rector of St. Dionis, Backchurch, where he had long been preacher; and on 10 December 1660 became dean of Rochester. In March 1661 he petitioned for the next vacant prebend at Westminster, but does not seem to have obtained it. On 6 April 1661 the king