“As my greatest business is with God, so my daily business is also with Him. He purposely leaveth me under wants, and suffers necessities daily to return, and enemies to assault me, and affliction to surprise me, that I may be daily driven to him. He loveth to hear from me. He would have me be no stranger to Him…
Company never hindereth him from hearkening to my suit; He is infinite and omnipotent, and is sufficient for every individual soul, as if he had no other to look after in the world…
He is free and ready to attend and answer the groans and prayers of a contrite soul, as if he had no nobler creatures, or no higher service to regard. I am oft unready, but God is never unready; I am unready to pray, but He is not unready to hear; I am unready to come to God, to walk with Him, and to solace my soul with him, but He is never unready to entertain me.”
Richard Baxter (1615-1691) English Puritan Church Leader, in The Practical Works of Richard Baxter (London: George Virtue, 1838) 871-872