The attitude of scientific men in the matter of seeking for the truths of the physical world may well serve as a model to those who are seeking the truth of God's word. With what eagerness and patience they search and study; with what submission of private opinion and judgment do they listen to the voice of Nature; how gladly they hail any new discovery of fact or law; how unselfishly some devote their lives to this pursuit, enduring poverty and privation, that only they may read and learn from that book of God! If just as much loving, earnest work were spent upon that other and greater Book of God; if with as open mind and as selfless spirit it were studied and searched--what blessing and glory would result! Some of the new discoveries have threatened to overthrow old, accepted ideas in physics and chemistry. But I have not heard that a single man of science became factious and partisan about it, and cast slurs upon the men who made the discoveries or impugned their motives, or vowed and declared that he was taught so and so and would stand by it and die by the old flag, and never be a turncoat. Such things are reserved for religious people to do and say. It has been said that men worship and adore the reformer who led them a step into the light and bitterly hate and persecute him who would lead them another step. "Blessed are the poor in spirit!" [213] And that does not mean the credulous; for because a man is poor, he is not a fool. He does not eat everything handed to him because he is hungry, nor accept counterfeit money because he is needy. But the poor in spirit goes to God in self-abandonment to get true to God, true riches, and nothing less; he knows nothing in himself, but seeks all from God, and from God only. "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

[TAG 213-214]