the doctrine of the Restoration, met me at a friend's house, to ask me the question, Whether I did or not? I acknowledged that I did, but did not wish to trouble any body with my sentiments. They desired me neither to preach them in public, nor to converse of them in private. I told them, That if they would prevent people from asking me, I would say nothing upon the matter; but if people asked me concerning my sentiments, I could not deny them, and if they wished to know the reasons, I must inform them. And thus the matter was to rest; but some that were present, wished to know the foundation of my sentiments, others opposed it, not wishing to hear any thing in its favor. At length it was agreed that I might read the passages of Scripture upon which I judged the doctrine of the Restoration to be founded, but must not add a single word of explanation on my part, and on their parts they were not to ask any questions, or make the least opposition, for if they did, I insisted upon the liberty of defending.

Accordingly I took the Bible, and read many passages in the Old and New Testaments, which I judged to contain the doctrine; and the very reading of them convinced several of the company of the truth of the Restoration. There was nothing farther took place at that time: We parted with a mutual agreement; I was net to preach it in the pulpit, nor to introduce it in conversation, but I would not not be obliged to deny it, when asked, nor to refuse to vindicate it, if opposed; and on their parts they were not to speak of it to my prejudice, but to endeavor as much as possible, to keep the matter close, and so we parted.-But notwithstanding all the pains that could be taken, the matter got abroad, and several came to discourse with me on my principles, to whom I gave such reasons as I was able for what I believed. A little after this time, I met with another copy of the Everlasting Gospel, which I then read through with attention for the first time, and found much satisfaction; the arguments and Seripture proofs therein contained, seem

ed to me sufficient to convince all that would read with candor and attention.

I still continued to act only on the defensive, not preaching upon the subject, nor going about to private houses to make interest in my favor; but if any came to me and wished me to discourse upon it, I would not refuse; and thus a number were convinced of its truth, while others violently opposed it. And thus matters continued until the latter end of March. Having heard that the German Baptists in Germantown, about 8 miles from Philadelphia, held the doctrine of the Restoration, I had appointed to spend the the first Sunday in April with them; and this engagement had been made sometime: Just as I was ready to go out of the city on Saturday, I found that some of the members of the Church had privately sent into the country, and collected a number of the ablest ministers, who were arrived in the city on purpose to debate, I gave them the liberty of my pulpit as they pleased for the next day, and went out of the city to go to Germantown; and took that opportunity to go and visit that ancient, venerable, and excellent man, Dr. George De Benneville, who received me in the most kind, open, and friendly manner; and his eonversation was most highly edifying to me. Afterwards I went to Germantown, and lodged there all night, ready to preach the next day. As soon as my enemies in Philadelphia found that I was gone out of the city, they spread a report that I had fled to avoid an interview with these ministers, who had come on purpose to convince me. Nothing could have been more false, than such a report, for I had been engaged to go to Germantown, on that day, for several weeks beforehand: I knew nothing of these Ministers being sent for until they came to town; and I had no fear but I should be able, by God's assitance, to defend the cause before them; and besides, I had ap. pointed to return on Monday, and did return accordingly. The whole Church met, both my friends and my opposers, and these Ministers met with them. !

was called to attend a funeral at the time, and was at the house of mourning, when a messenger was sent in haste, to desire my immediate attendance at the mecting without any delay. I found that those who were my enemies in the assembly, had been greatly vaunting over my friends, because I was not present. They said I had absconded merely to avoid a debate, in which I was sure to be confuted, as here was an opportunity that might never present itself again ;and seven wise, able, and learned Ministers had assembled on purpose to dispute with me, but that I had gone, and left my adherents in the lurch, from a consciousness that I was not able to defend my cause ;with abundance more to the same purpose My friends, on the other hand, told them, That I was afraid of nothing but sin, and that they doubted not of my my being able and willing to dispute with any one of the gentlemen, or all of them, one by one, if they chose it. O, no; they replied, they knew better than that, I was gone out of the way on purpose, where I could not be found. My friends told them, That if there was a vote past in the assembly that I should dispute with any one, they would engage that I would be among them in a few minutes. It was accordingly unanimously voted, that I should dispute with the Rev. Mr. Boggs, upon my sentiments, in the presence of these Ministers, and of the whole assenbly. But when in a few minutes I came in, and took my place, what different countenances appeared in the congregation? All my friends were highly pleased, and the others were as much confounded and disappointed, at seeing me come in so cheerfully and quickly, after they had made themselves so sure, that I would not come. But surely, I might have been looked upon with pity; alone to answer for myself, no one to support me; while my antagonists were seven of the ablest Ministers that could be obtain ed.

I felt, however, that inward composure, from a pensciousness of having acted uprightly and in

cerely in the whole affair, that even caused my countenance to appear easy and cheerful.

The vote was then publicly read, and I stood up, and declared my readiness to comply with what was required. The worthy gentleman who was chosen to dispute with me, then rose up, and said these words, I am not prepared to dispute with Mr. Winchester, I have heard that he says That it would take six weeks to canvass all the arguments fairly on both sides; and I suppose he has been studying upon the subject for a week or more, and I have not studied it at all; and therefore I must beg to be excused.”

When I found that he, and all the rest wholly declined disputing with me, I begged liberty to speak for two hours upon my sentiments, and lay them fairly open, and the ground upon which I maintained them. But this was denied me; I then desired them to give me one hour for this purpose; but this was also refused. One of the Ministers got up, and said, That their business was not to debate with me, but to ask me, whether I believed the Restoration of bad men and angels, finally to a state of holiness and happiness, &c.

But if they did not come to dispute with me, why was the vote passed by their party, as well as by my friends, that I should dispute with them? This speaks for itself. The ministers insisted upon putting the question to me, do you believe the doctrine of the Universal Restoration? My friends objected to my answering the question, unless I might be allowed to vindicate my sentiments. But I said, That I did not fear any use that could be made of my words; that I had always freely confessed what my thoughts were when asked; and therefore I told them, that I did heartily believe the General Restoration, and was willing to defend it. The gentleman that was chosen to dispute with me, then asked me, whether I thought it strange, considering my change of sentiments, that there should be such a noise and uproar made upon the occasion, &c. I told him that I did not think it

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strange at all; and gave him a little history of the affair, and how the matter came abroad, through the treachery of some, whom I had esteemed as my friends; that when I mentioned it to them I was not fully persuaded of it myself, and perhaps never might have been, if I had not been opposed and threatened; that I never had intended to trouble the people with my sentiments, but was willing to live and die with them, if they could bear with me; but that I could not use so much deceit, as to deny what I believed, when asked by any one; that I never had yet done so, and, by the grace of God never would, let the consequences be what they might. What I said was in presence of all my accusers, and none of them could contradict me, nor had aught to lay to my charge, except in this matter of the gospel of my Saviour. My discourse took such an effect upon him, that he then publickly declared, that my behaviour in the whole affair had been as became a man and a Christian, and that no one could accuse me of any improper conduct. I stood some time, and as none appeared to have any thing farther to say to me, I took my leave and went out. He accompanied me to the door, and told me that he would write to me upon the subject; but whatever was the reason, he never did, nor have we spoken together since.

The Ministers then advised the people to get another Minister; but my friends being numerous, insisted it should be fairly determined by the subscribers at large; but this the other party would not agree

to.

Several very fair offers were made by my friends to them, but they refused them all; and finally, by force they kept us out of the house, and deprived us of our part of the property, which was at last confirmed to them by law, though I think unjustly, as we were the majority at first; but they took uncommon pains in carrying about a protest against me, to every member of the church, both in the city and in the country, and threatening all with excommunication who would not sign it; by which some were intimida