The Difference Between Canonical and Apocryphal Books

We distinguish between these holy books and the apocryphal ones, which are 3 and 4 Esdras; the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Jesus Sirach,¹ Baruch; additions to Esther; the Song of the Three Children in the Furnace; the Story of Susannah; the Story of Bel and the Dragon; the Prayer of Manasseh; and the two books of Maccabees.

The church may read and learn from them as far as they agree with the canonical books. But they do not have such efficacy 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.