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Article 6: The Difference Between Canonical
and Apocryphal Books
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We distinguish between these holy books
and the apocryphal ones,
   which are the third and fourth books of Esdras;
   the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Jesus Sirach, Baruch;
   what was added to the Story of Esther;
   the Song of the Three Children in the Furnace;
   the Story of Susannah;
   the Story of Bell and the Dragon;
   the Prayer of Manasseh;
   and the two books of Maccabees.

The church may certainly read these books
and learn from them
as far as they agree with the canonical books.
But they do not have such power and virtue
that one could confirm
from their testimony
any point of faith or of the Christian religion.
Much less can they detract
from the authority
of the other holy books.

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