See God through the Communion Elements

While we live on this earth our sight of God is imperfect, as in a mirror. It is nothing compared with seeing him face to face in heaven. We will know this sight better when we are there; we cannot now discover it. It is a part of heaven to know what apprehensions we will have of God there. But surely it will be more excellent than that which is here.
Now while we are here, we are to receive communion. Think of the communion elements as mirrors in which we see the glory of the love and mercy of God in Christ. If we consider the bread alone, and not as representing better things, what is it? And the wine alone, as if it did not represent better things, what is it but an ordinary poor thing? Oh, but take them as a mirror, as things that convey to the soul and represent things more excellent than themselves, and they are a glorious ordinance. Bread and wine must not be taken as naked elements, but as they represent and convey something more excellent: that is, Christ and all his benefits, and the love, mercy, and grace of God in Christ.
I beseech you now, when you are to receive communion, let your minds be more occupied than your senses. When you take the bread, think of the body of Christ broken; and when you think of mixing and uniting the bread into one substance, think of Christ and you made one. When the wine is poured out, think of the blood of Christ poured out for your sin. When you think of the refreshment that wine can bring, think of the refreshing of your spirits and souls by the love of God in Christ, and of the love of Christ that did not spare his blood for your soul's good. Think how Christ crucified and his shed blood refreshes the guilty soul, as wine refreshes the weak spirits! Consider the ordinances as mirrors in which better things are presented, and let your minds as well as your senses be occupied, and then you will be fit receivers.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 87-89 [95-97]
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