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ARTICLES OF RELIGION, 1562
Related to the Holy Scriptures
Found in
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for salvation.

Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church. 

Of the Names and Number of the Canonical Books 

•Genesis •Exodus •Leviticus •Numbers •Deuteronomy •Joshua •Judges •Ruth •The First Book of Samuel •The Second Book of Samuel •The First Book of Kings •The Second Book of Kings •The First Book of Chronicles •The Second Book of Chronicles •The First Book of Esdras [Ezra] •The Second Book of Esdras [Nehemiah] •The Book of Esther •The Book of Job •The Psalms •The Proverbs •Ecclesiastes or Preacher •Cantica, or Songs of Solomon •Four Prophets the greater •Twelve Prophets the less 

And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth not apply them to establish any doctrine; such are these following: 

•The Third Book of Esdras [I Esdras] •The Fourth Book of Esdras [II Esdras] •The Book of Tobias •The Book of Judith •The rest of the Book of Esther •The Book of Wisdom •Jesus the Son of Sirach [or Ecclesiasticus] •Baruch the Prophet •The Song of th e Three Children •The Story of Susanna •Of Bel and the Dragon •The Prayer of Manasses •The First Book of Maccabees •The Second Book of Maccabees 

All of the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them Canonical. 
 

VII. Of the Old Testament.

The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for in both the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to Mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and Man, being both God and Man. Wherefor ther are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the Civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral. 

VIII. Of the Three Creeds.

The Three Creeds, the Nicene Creed, Athanasius's Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrents of holy Scripture. 

XX. Of the Authority of the Church.

The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith: And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for the necessity of Salvation. 

XXI. Of the Authority of General Councils.

General Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes. And when they be gathered together, (forasmuch as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God,) they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture.