33. The just carefully attend to what they owe to God and what to their neighbor. — The judgments of the just are rightly compared to a diadem, because through the glory of a great work they lead to the crown of recompense. Which judgments they daily transact within themselves, carefully considering what they owe to God, what to their neighbor, and they vehemently kindle themselves to do good, and strictly reprove themselves for evils perpetrated. Whence it is also well said through Solomon: 'The thoughts of the just are judgments' (Prov. 12:5). For within, away from all secular tumult, they return to their own hearts, and there ascend the tribunal of the mind, and set themselves and their neighbor before their eyes, bringing into the midst the rule of the testament, in which it is said:
'Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also the same to them' (Matt. 7:12). They transfer to themselves the person of their neighbor, and carefully attend to what they would justly have wished to be done or not done to themselves if they were in like case, and thus with strict right and judgment they examine their own cause and their neighbor's according to the tablets of the divine law in the forum of the heart. Well therefore is it said: 'The thoughts of the just are judgments,' because that very inmost motion of their heart is as it were a certain balance of judicial power. Which things being accomplished, because they do not seek recompense here below, their judgments are rightly compared to a diadem. For a diadem is placed on the upper part of the body.
The judgment of the just therefore is called a diadem, because through it they desire to be rewarded not in earthly and lowest things, but on high. There follows: