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"The oftener I reflect upon these things, the more I am astonished at the extravagance of some men, at that complication of impiety and blindness; in a word, at that strange insatiable lust after novelty in religion, that they cannot rest contented with the old rule of faith, once delivered and deposited in the Primitive Church, but must be, every day, upon new researches, and are never well but when they are aiding altering, or curtailing Christianity; as if the doctrine was not from heaven, nor one Revelation sufficient, but only a human institution, which could not possibly be perfected, but by mending it every day; or to speak more truly, by picking holes in it every day.

And yet the divine oracles, both in the Old and New Testament, loudly remonstrate against all such alterations. Pass not beyond the bounds, which thy fathers have set, Prov. xxiii. 28. And judge not against a judge, Eccles. viii. 17. He, that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him, Eccles. x.8. And so likewise that severe charge of the apostle, which has often been, and always will be, as it were the Spiritual Sword, to lop off the sprouting heresies of every age. The charge is this, 1 Tim. vi. 20,21. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trusts, avoiding the profane novelties of words, and oppositions of knowledge falsely so culled, which some promising, have erred concerning the faith.

And yet, after all this, there are some such hardy veterans in wickedness, of that barren effrontery, and irrefragable obstinacy, as to stand proof against all this powerful impression of scripture; men, who will capitulate upon no terms of reason, nor be touched by the most shocking  arguments, nor be dismayed, to say no more, by the most terrible menaces from heaven. But to proceed: Avoid, says St. Paul, the profane novelties of words; he did not say, avoid the primitive doctrines, but just the contrary; for if novelty is to be avoided, antiquity is to be retained; if novelty is profane, antiquity is sacred. But the apostle goes on and adds, oppositions of knowledge falsely so called. A most true character of the doctrine of heretics, who set a gloss upon their ignorance, with the title of science, and call darkness light, and light darkness. Which some, says he, promising have erred concerning the faith. Promising what? Why some new, strange, unheard of doctrines; for this is the cant of these promisers to the Catholics: Come hither, O ye unwise and simple wretches, come to our meetings, O ye that love to go by the name of Catholics, and here learn the true and saving faith, which none are gifted to understand, but those of our way only; a mystery, that has been hidden from the world for many ages, and graciously revealed, but of late, to the Lord's people; but you must be content to learn this faith privily, and by stealth, and then you will find it wondrous sweet and edifying.

And moreover, I must advise you to teach it with the same privity as you learned it, and be sure, that it comes not to the ears of the world, not that the Church knows one syllable of the mystery: for it is given but to few to know the secrets of the Lord. But is not this the very invitation of the courtesan in the Proverbs of Solomon, calling them that pass by the way, and go on their journey: he that is a little one, let him turn to me, and to the fool she said: Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant. But what are the words following? Why, he knoweth not that giants are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell. Prov. ix. 15,16,17,18. And who are the giants, but those whom the apostles says, have erred concerning the faith?"

Source: Grounds of Catholic Doctrine: by Bishop Challoner: as contained in the Profession of Faith, published by Pope Pius IV,