Supposing you were asked to add together the following items: 5 cows, 10 hens, 3 ploughs, 4 spades, 1 bushel of

seed, you would probably reply, "I can only add these different items together if I can find some common

denominator for them all. I cannot say 23 animals, neither can I say 23 implements; perhaps I could say 23 items of

farm stock.

Well, dear reader, here am I with the gospel of God, and before me are men of every conceivable character,

creed and country. Black men and white, educated and ignorant, Jews and Chinese, millionaires and paupers,

princes and vagabonds, dare I hope to find the common denominator for all this great variety that shall make the

gospel of God a living thing to one and all? What is there common to the wise and the fool? How can I expect an

equal interest from an atheist and a ritualist? In what way are millionaires on a level with paupers? Rather than give

the answer myself, I would let the words of the wise man reveal this common leveller of mankind:

"I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness" (Eccl. 2:13).

The reader may interrupt and say that this observation, instead of levelling mankind, most definitely divides it

into two classes. Let us hear the end of the matter however:

"The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that ONE

EVENT HAPPENETH TO THEM ALL ... How dieth the wise man? as the fool!" (Eccl. 2:14-16).

"There is ONE EVENT to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean ... there

is ONE EVENT unto all" (Eccl. 9:2,3).

"All go unto ONE PLACE; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" (Eccl. 3:20).

Whether you be philosopher, philanthropist, or fool, there is no necessity for me to interpret the wise man's

words. We all know well enough that the common denominator of mankind is death. Now as a man of the world

you may secretly despise the meekness of Christ, or as the possessor of this world's good things you may have no

room for One Who held these things so cheaply. You may have a wonderful philosophy, or religion, that is quite

satisfying, but what avail will riches, or position, or philosophy, or religion be when you arrive at that ONE EVENT.

Is it no news to mortal man that:

"Our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the

gospel: whereunto I (Paul) am appointed a preacher"? (2 Tim. 1:10,11).

As part of this same gospel we read:

"Christ DIED for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6).

"For since by man came DEATH, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in

Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:21,22).

Listen to this statement of gospel truth, and see whether it does not constitute "glad tidings":

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Christ) also Himself likewise took part of

the same; that through DEATH He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver

them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:14,15).

Is it true that the reader knows nothing of this fear and this bondage? What would you not give to be able to say:

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ... Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:55-57).