Ezekiel 40:20

Readers must exercise great discernment, so that when any single word is used in sacred Scripture, it is not believed to always signify one and the same thing—just as sometimes "sun" is taken in a good sense, and sometimes in a bad sense. For by the name of sun, sometimes our Redeemer Himself is signified, and sometimes persecution. For as the Book of Wisdom attests, the impious in hell will say: "We have erred from the way of truth, and the sun of justice has not shone upon us." And concerning the seeds that were cast, the Lord says: "When the sun rose, they withered"—because, that is, when persecution arose, the words of preaching dried up in the hearts of the reprobate. Likewise, "lion" signifies the Lord. Hence it is written: "The lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered." Yet by the name of lion, the likeness of the devil is also expressed, as is said by the first pastor: "Your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour." Likewise, by the name of ox, a wise person is designated. Hence it is written: "You shall not yoke together an ox and a donkey"—that is, you shall not join a wise person with a fool in preaching. Yet by "ox" a fool is also figured, as is said of one who has been captured in shameful love: "Immediately he follows her, like an ox led to slaughter"—that is, like a fool being dragged to death. I have said these things, therefore, lest—because I have explained that a gate can signify the Lord, or preachers, or sacred Scripture, or faith—wherever "gate" is read henceforth in this prophet, it be believed that it cannot signify something else. For when the prophet was speaking of one gate, faith was rightly understood, because there is one faith of all the elect. But when other gates are named, the mouths of preachers can be understood, through which true life is known, and through which one ascends to the knowledge of spiritual sacraments. For regarding the gate by which we said faith is signified, we should note that it is called "lower." For while we are in this life, we are held as if placed in the depths, still kept below. And rightly is the lower gate faith, because it opens to us, placed on earth, the knowledge of God. Of the gate which looked toward the way of the North of the outer court, those same things are repeated which were already said above concerning the other gate, and other things are…

(Verse 20, 21.) He also measured the gate of the outer court that faced north, both in length and width. It had three rooms on each side, and its front and vestibule were the same size as those of the gate that faced east. The gate was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide, and its windows, vestibule, and carvings were all the same size as those of the gate that faced east. There were seven steps in its ascent, and a vestibule before it. And there was a gate of the inner court opposite the gate to the north and east. And it was measured from gate to gate, one hundred cubits. Seventy: And he brought me to the north gate and behold, a gate facing the outer court. And it was measured, its length and its width, with its three sides here, and three there, and its threshing floor, and its rooms (which it did not have in Hebrew) and its palm tree. And it was made in the measurement of the gate facing east: its length was fifty cubits, and its width was twenty-five cubits. And its windows and palm trees were like the gate that faced east. And it had seven steps leading up to it, with palm trees on the inside. And the inner gate of the courtyard faced the gate of the north (which is not mentioned in Hebrew, like the gate that faces east). And the courtyard was measured from gate to gate, a hundred cubits. What the Hebrew words "thee," "elau," and "elamoth" mean, we have already explained in more detail. But our translation will teach you their meaning in the present context. However, there was a man whose cord was in his hand, and also the gate of the outer court of the north, or he brought the prophet through the gate of the north to the outer court. In which it is to be considered that it is first introduced through the gate of the north, secondly, through the gate of the south, thirdly, through the gate of the east. For from the north evil flames are kindled upon the inhabitants of the earth. And it is clear that the one who dwells on the earth, and is not a stranger or a foreigner, is exposed to the spears of him who comes from the north, whose spears are on fire, which, according to the Apostle, are extinguished by the shield of faith. And towards the North, the outer courtyard is called; but towards the South, that is, towards the South, it is not outside, but inside. For the Scripture says: And he brought me to the inner court by the South gate, which…