1. What we pray for we seek. But we are forbidden to seek for temporal things, for it is said: _Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you_,[142] those temporal things, namely, which He says are not to be sought but which are to be added to the things which we seek. But temporal things are to be sought secondarily not primarily. Hence S. Augustine[143]: "When He says the former is _to be sought first_ (namely the kingdom of God), He means that the latter (namely temporal good things) are to be sought afterwards; not _afterwards_ in point of time, but _afterwards_ in point of importance; the former as our good, the latter as our need." 2. Again, we only ask for things about which we are solicitous. But we are not allowed to be solicitous about temporal concerns: _Be not solicitous for your life, what ye shall eat_[144].... But not all solicitude about temporal affairs is forbidden, only such as is superfluous and out of due order. 3. Further, we ought in prayer to uplift our minds to God. But by asking for temporal things in prayer our mind descends to things beneath it, and this is contrary to the teaching of the Apostle: _While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen are eternal._[145] When our mind is occupied with temporal affairs so as to set up its rest in them then it remains in them, and is depressed by them; but when the mind turns to them as a means of attaining to eternal life it is not depressed by them, but rather uplifted by them. 4. Lastly, men ought not to pray except for things useful and good. But temporal possessions are at times hurtful, and this not merely spiritually but even temporally; hence a man ought not to ask them of God. But it is clear that since we do not seek temporal things primarily or for their own sake, but with reference to something else, we consequently only ask them of God according as they may be expedient for our salvation. * * * * *