BISHOP Wren's Petition to the PARLIAMENT, in defence of episcopacy. In the behalf of himself and the rest of the Bishops.  
WHEREIN, He endeavours to ebreviate and lessen the liberty of the Subject; being his sole resolution to extenuate the privilege of Parliament.  
AS ALSO, How his most especial intents contain (in the ensuing Petition) the corroborating of prelatical primacy.  
WITH Many reasons inducing him to the presentation of the same to the Right Honourable the High Court of Parliament.   portrait  portrait 
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Bates. 1642.   

BISHOP Wren's Petition to the PARLIAMENT, in defence of episcopacy.  
HUMBLY showeth. 
 THAT although many invective aspersions of scandalous Pamphlets, and illicite rumours have been, and daily are published, to the epidemical spectacle of the world against me. Yet notwithstanding, I have buried all those abuses in the sepulchre of patience and lenity, presenting myself once more to the clement judgement and mature deliberation of your honours; imploring nothing but Justice. As for those libels which have approbriously been cast upon me in particular; and in general, against the most and greatest Peers in the Land, to the intolerable abuse of us all espe●●●lly of such as have any adherence or else that do appear of episcopal government▪ or Puri 〈…〉 on.  
Which government 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ited with the first point of Protestant Religion, yea instituted by Christ himself and the Apostles, and have ever since successively continued, being the next antiquity to apostolical men though the abusive detractions of the Brownists and Separatists in our time have derogated the classical authentic and approved authority thereof, they have been the sole men that have opposed the Episcopal Hierarchy, & although they have externally denied (all innovations) (as they call them) in their common appellation: yet principally they have and do make daily more inovations themselves; betwixt both which, there is a repugnant authority as for the former it tended only to the honour and glory of God, the decency of the Church, and the credit of the King and kingdom, but for the latter nothing but schismatical 〈…〉 zions, and confusive distractions are introduced by them. I therefore implore your honour with all humility, maturely to consider all their preposterous actions, they have contaminated the purity of Religion so much, that it is almost become leprous, they swarm so promiscuously in our streets, that like the Egyptian Locusts they eat up the sanctity of our Church government; yea withal, they are now grown so licentious, that they will not be curbed by human reason, nor disapproved, although confuted by the holy Scripture. The fervency of my desire, is, therefore that the church may be purgel from such opposite enemies to true Religion, and that the fountain of Piety may not be corrupted by such turbulent obstacles: & withal▪ I beseech your honours to consider the abuse intolerably offered, and promiscuously intended against sciential learning, that it may not be so defaced and discountenanced by the Ignorants, but rather that you would be pleased to advance it to its perfect lustre, dignity, and irradiation, it being the prime supporter of all true loyalty and obedience, order, rule, regularity, & obsequious civility in all states: for the defective derogation from the duties of our religion, will incontinently prove a consumption unto any kingdom, and that Basis of Church-government, and foundation of Piety, which if not first rooted and grounded in Christ, is not only weak of itself, and infirm, but likewise debilitates, a whole Nation. If it be so, than they consequently do promerrit the strict execution of Justice, that would bring the church to a destructive Anarchy, the denial of episcopacy is the abridgement of sacred Piety, the dispossessing of the Church of that primogeniture and predominant head, which should govern, guide, and direct it. The refusal of Justice in conducting the taking away of equity, in patrocinating & the excluding those 1. & absolute institutions of the Church are such obst●uctions beyond the limit of any former Authors, and the wounds of our prelatical property lets out the very life blood of the people▪ the reformation whereof must necessarily be a work of much consequence.  
But God be praised, the defence is not desperate beyond cure, we serve one God, we believe in one Christ, and we all acknowledge and profess one gospel, the difference is only de natura, we vary but in the Ceremonies; to reduce which to the primitive practice, was all our former endeavours, and cannot effectually be enacted without our assertions, and your mutual concurrence: the condoleable disrespect of our function, the divisions and various distractions of the schismatics, the almost anarchical government of the church, the languishing impurity of religion, hath at this time respectively induced me to present this humble petition unto your honours favourable respects, imploring your favour to concur unanimously in this petitory construction,  
And your Petitioner shall be ever bound to pray, &c.  
FINIS.