William Muehl of Yale Divinity School tells of visiting a fine old ancestral house in Virginia.  The aged owner was the last of a distinguished colonial family, and she was proudly showing him through the home.  Over the fireplace he noticed an ancient rifle which intrigued him.  He asked if he might take it down and examine it.  She replied, “Oh, I am afraid that wouldn’t be safe.  You see, it is all loaded and primed to fire.  My great-grandfather kept it there in constant readiness against the moment when he might strike a blow for the freedom of the colonies.” Prof.  Muehl said, “Then he died before the Revolution came?” “No,” she answered, “he lived to a ripe old age and died in 1802, but he never had confidence in George Washington.  You see, he knew him as a boy and didn’t believe h…