Chapter XV: Book THE THIRD

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PETER WHEELER AT THE CROSS.

INSCRIBED

_To the Free People of Color in the Free States._

Dear Friends:

I inscribe this Book to you, for several reasons. I love
you, and feel anxious to have you become intelligent and
virtuous. I know that there are only a few books adapted to your
taste and acquirements; and I have had my eye upon your good in
writing this history. I have thought you would understand it a
great deal better if it was told in Peter’s own language, and so
I wrote it just as he told it. I hope you will read it
_through_, and follow Peter to the Lamb of God who taketh away
the sin of the world. And if you are oppressed by the strong arm
of power, and kept down by an unholy and cruel prejudice, forget
it and forgive it all, and go to that blessed Redeemer who came
to save your souls, that he might clothe you, at last, with
clean white linen, which is the righteousness of the sain’ts.

Your friend,

THE AUTHOR.

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