Gregory the Great, on Ezek 40:47

“And he measured the court a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad foursquare: and the altar that was before the face of the temple.”

“But because under the name of the altar a discourse on the flame of compunction has presented itself, I think it necessary to show what the diversity of that same compunction is. For one compunction is that which is born through fear, another which is born through love, because it is one thing to flee punishments, another to desire rewards. Hence also in the tabernacle two altars are commanded by the law to be made, one namely exterior, the other interior; one in the court, the other before the ark; one which is covered with bronze, the other which is clothed with gold. And on the bronze altar flesh is burned, but on the golden altar incense is kindled. What is this, dearest brothers, that outside flesh is burned, inside incense, except this which we see daily, that there are two kinds of compunction, that some still weep through fear, but others already afflict themselves in lamentations through love? For many, mindful of their sins, while they dread eternal punishments, afflict themselves with daily tears. They bewail the evils they have done, and burn their vices with the fire of compunction, whose suggestions they still suffer in their heart. What are these but a bronze altar on which flesh burns, because carnal works are still bewailed by them?”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.