Gregory the Dialogist

"Fear them not, neither be afraid at their face, for they are a rebellious house." This has already been said above. But it should be noted how harsh a house is held to be, whose harshness is repeated so frequently. Therefore the sinner must be rebuked and never feared, because it is a provoking house. For a man ought to have been feared if he himself had feared the Author of all things as a man should. …

Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 10 ↗