I can find nothing in Holy Scripture about its loss. On the contrary, after the Fall God emphatically repeated that decree and declaration in Genesis 9, not only granting man dominion over things and animals anew, but especially promulgating the law which forbids the killing of man and requires an accounting for his blood from the hand of beasts, to use the text’s own words, as well as from men themselves. The reason given is precisely that man was made in the image of God.

I therefore conclude with Seibold, with whom Felden also seems to agree, that man is the image of God by imitation. I believe that this imitation consists not only in the dominion over things already mentioned—which is granted more to the earthly than to the heavenly man—but also in holiness, righteousness, and the other Christian virtues. Farewell, Reverend Sir, and forgive this most unadorned style. In the year 1669.