Either to disinthrone the King of Heaven We war, if war be best, or to regain Our own right lost : him to unthrone we then May hope when everlasting Faith shall yield To fickle Chance and Chaos judge the strife: The former vain to hope argues as vain The latter: for what place can be for us Within Heavens bound, unless Heavens Lord supreme We overpower? Suppose he should relent And publish Grace to all, on promise made Of new Subjection; with what eyes could we Stand in his presence humble, and receive Strict Laws imposed, to celebrate his Throne With warbled Hymns, and to his Godhead sing Forced Halleluiahs; while he Lordly sits Our envied Soverign, and his Altar breathes Ambrosial Odours and Ambrosial Flowers, Our servile offerings. This must be our task In Heaven this our delight; how wearisome Eternity so spent in worship paid To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue By force impossible, by leave obtained Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek Our own good from our selves, and from our own Live to our selves, though in this vast recess, Free, and to none accountable, preferring Hard liberty before the easy yoke Of servile Pomp. Our greatness will appear Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse We can create, and in what place so ever Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain Through labour and endurance. This deep world Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst Thick clouds and dark doth Heavens all-ruling Sire Choose to reside, his Glory unobscured, And with the Majesty of darkness round Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his Light Imitate when we please? This Desert soil Wants not her hidden lustre, Gems and Gold; Nor want we skill or Artsome copies have art, from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more? Our torments also may in length of time Become our Elements, these piercing Fires As soft as now severe, our temper changed Into their temper; which must needs remove The sensible of pain. All things invite To peaceful Counsels, and the settled State Of order, how in safety best we may Compose our present evils, with regard Of what we are and were, dismissing quite All thoughts of war: ye have what I advise.