a perfect example of authentic spirituality, namely Brainerd himself. What is more, Brainerd’s saga revealed the thoughts of one who was not an “idle spectator” but who had experienced the Awakening at close quarters and had observed the “extraordinary effects and unusual appearances of that day.”2 Brainerd, of course, had described in his diary numerous case histories, namely those of his own converts. It would seem, furthermore, that he had judged these cases by Edwards’ rules, which he found in