Vesper Service.

Rev. F. G. Peabody preached yesterday afternoon at vespers. He took his subject from the third chapter of Matthew, which is an account of the work of John the Baptist.

Just before Christmas, said he, we are naturally brought to study the life of John the Baptist for the reason that he came just before Christ, to prepare the way for him. John the Baptist stands half way between the Old and New Testaments and might be classed with the characters of either. Like the prophets of the Old Testament he foretold Christ's coming and work. Still he is really more closely connected with the New Testament, because he came into personal contact with Christ and prepared people directly for his coming. His position is more dramatic and touching than that of any other man in the Bible. His work is nothing in itself,- it is always a preparation for somebody better and greater who is to come. He is always looking forward, he is putting aside the past and preparing men for the future.

The life of every man is, in this respect, like that of John. He may look at his life as the end and object of all the work that has been done in the past. For him have his ancestors toiled for generations; for him has a college been founded, and for him has the world been growing better and happier ever since the beginning. But there can be no more narrow or dismal way of looking at one's life than to regard it as the perfection of all efforts of the past. Rather, it is but a step in the attainment of the final end. Every life should be a life of preparation, of helping others and making the world ready for Christ's second coming. Then only can it be called a complete life.

The choir sang, "To us is Born," by Praetorious, "The Star that now is Shining," by Oliver King, and "Nazareth," by Gounod.