"The standard of perfection was originally God and man," writes Mary Baker Eddy on page 470 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." As understood in Christian Science, this standard is perpetual, It is the one perfect God, Spirit, Mind, and the one perfect man. God's spiritual idea. This man, described in the first chapter of Genesis as God's image and likeness, is Godlike in every respect. Conversely, he reflects nothing unlike God.

A differing standard, however, is found in the allegorical account of creation in the second chapter of Genesis, where a mist appears. Within the mist, material sense molds a man of dust who knows both good and evil. This sense then tends to envision God as something like man on a magnified scale. The second standard is thus a finite, anthropomorphic God, responsible for evil as well as good, and a confused mortal, who vacillates between the extremes of sin and holiness, sickness and health, life and death. Christian Science declares this standard to be completely erroneous.

One should understand clearly the two standards and their criteria. If one were offered counterfeit money, he might quite innocently become an unsuspecting medium of crime, unless the false coinage were seen for what it is and instantly rejected. Similarly, thoughts of all kinds are constantly offered to consciousness. Each thought should be critically examined in terms of the standard of perfection before it is permitted entry into consciousness.

Any thought, action, or condition may be measured by one sure criterion: Is this of God, infinite good? If it is, it conforms to the standard of perfection and is divine, real, and beneficial. If it is not, it is mortal, false, and unreal. Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 392): "Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously."

Prayer leads thought to a clearer understanding of the present perfection of God, man, and the universe. Prayer, continued in thought and lived in deeds, is a sure guide whereby the truth in any condition may be established. True prayer is not pleading to God. It is knowing and maintaining that the true standard, perfect God and His perfect reflection, man, is always the present reality, no matter what a material sense condition may seem to be.

The story of the raising of Lazarus is a beautiful lesson in true prayer and in claiming the true standard. When told that his friend was sick, Christ Jesus stood "porter at the door of thought," for he said (John 11:4), "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God." A little later he said to Martha, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"

Then Jesus offered his wonderful prayer of gratitude and affirmation, followed by demonstration. The Bible account reads: "He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth."

The revealment of the true standard in individual consciousness comes through prayer. Could God ever make His child, the loved of Love, ill? Scientific prayer answers No, for the true standard includes health and immortality. Could God make man a sinner or a victim of false habits? Loving prayer shows that the perfect standard is purity and freedom.

It is the material sense of man as an imperfect mortal which produces the many ills of humanity. It is the truth of man's eternal perfection in Science which proves material sense and its claims to be false.

Some time ago a dentist urged the writer to have his teeth removed because of a condition of the gums. In talking about this to a Christian Science practitioner, the writer was asked, in substance, "To whom are you listening, to God or to mortal man?" He decided then and there that he would no longer accept the material sense of himself as a mortal. Rather, he would claim the enduring substance and perfection of man in Science as the standard of his individual being. The healing was complete and almost instantaneous. Later on, another dentist found that the teeth needed only a routine cleaning.

The consciousness of mortals includes many phases of the false standard. Yet in that consciousness is a latent longing to know and do the right. This longing finds expression in the familiar verse (Ps. 19:14), "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."

Mrs. Eddy points out in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 1), "The members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously." What is thought, said, and done must continually conform to the standard of the perfection of God and man. Then the demonstration of the healing power of Truth will no longer be a matter of isolated instances in Biblical history but of present daily experience.