Gregory the Dialogist

And at the outer side, which goes up to the entrance of the gate that looks toward the north. Nor does it seem foreign to reason that the prophet, when he was speaking of the outer side and naming the door of the gate, added: Which goes toward the North. For in the outer custody the law given in the letter was kept. But the door of the gate is the historical understanding itself of the law, which leads to the fear of the Lord. …

Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 2, Homily 9 ↗