Outline of "Pilgrim's Progress," Chapter 7
I. Christian and Faithful Meet in the Way
A. Christian ascends a little Hill, which has been placed on the Way for the purpose of allowing pilgrims to see the path before them, and, from the Hill, he sees Faithful journeying ahead of him.
B. Christian calls out to Faithful to wait for him, but Faithful replies that he is running for his life from one pursuing him, so Christian runs to catch up with Faithful, and he even passes by Faithful on the Way.
C. Once Christian passes by Faithful, he begins to gloat, but then he stumbles, and Faithful must help him up.
D. Christian and Faithful continue on the Way together in fellowship, talking about their pilgrimages.
II. News from Home
A. Faithful says he has desired Christian's company since he [Faithful] left the City of Destruction, but since Christian had left ahead of him, Faithful had to travel alone.
B. Faithful says that many people in the City of Destruction had been talking about its impending doom since Christian left, but no one seemed to truly believe that the City of Destruction would fall.
C. Faithful, however, had believed that the City was doomed, and so he made his escape.
D. Christian asks about Pliable; Faithful says that Pliable had returned to the City covered in mud from the Slough of Despond.
E. Though the townspeople had no intention of leaving the City, they mocked, persecuted, and refused to employ Pliable, despising him as a turncoat.
F. Christian and Faithful mourn the apparent self-destruction of Pliable.
III. Faithful's Confrontations with Temptation
1. Faithful tells Christian that he had escaped the Slough reached the Gate "without much danger."
2. Wanton-- the woman who had "severely tested" Joseph-- attempted to seduce Faithful with "all kinds of pleasure and contentment" coming "from the gratification of carnal and fleshly desires."
3. Faithful closes his eyes to avoid temptation and walks by Wanton, who curses at him.
B. The Old Man
1. An Old Man at the foot of the Hill of Difficulty asks Faithful if he will work for him, offering him his entire inheritance as a reward.
2. The Old Man says that he has three daughters-- the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life-- and that Faithful may marry them if he desires to do so.
3. Faithful sees a verse written on the forehead of the Old Man-- "put off, concerning your former conduct, the Old Man"-- and he rejects the Old Man's offer.
4. The Old Man curses Faithful and says he will send someone to cause him bitterness of soul on his journey.
5. The Old Man takes hold of Faithful's flesh and sharply pulls him backwards; Faithful cries out, "What a wretched man I am!" then he continues up the Hill.
1. Faithful meets Moses at the Arbor; Moses beats Faithful, repeatedly knocking him out cold.
2. Moses says he is beating Faithful because Faithful is secretly inclined toward serving the Old Man; Moses says that he knows no mercy.
3. One comes by and orders Moses to stop; Faithful sees wounds in the hands and sides of the One and realizes it is his lord.
4. Faithful says he had previously encountered Moses in the City of Destruction, and that Moses had threatened to burn down his house if he did not escape the City.
1. Faithful tells how Discontent had met him in the Valley of Humility and had tried to persuade Faithful to go back with him.
2. Discontent had said that Faithful's friends-- Pride, Arrogance, Self-conceit, Worldly glory, and others-- would be ashamed of him for being so foolish as to wade through the Valley.
3. Faithful had told Discontent that his former friends and family had already disowned him, and that "humility comes before honor," and, "a haughty spirit before a fall."
1. Faithful tells how Shame had tried to make him ashamed to be a pilgrim, by calling pilgrims anti-intellectual and speaking of how pilgrims are usually poor and despised people.
2. Faithful had realized that Shame was speaking worldly, rather than godly, wisdom, and that those who make themselves fools for the Kingdom of Heaven are wisest.
3. Faithful and Christian rejoice and resolve to continue resisting Shame.
IV. Christian Recounts His Troubles