Toward The Mark, a bi-monthly magazine edited and published by Harry Foster, was a continuation of the ministry begun by Mr. Austin-Sparks in A Witness and A Testimony. Mr. W. E. (Bill) Thompson, who has the responsibility and oversight of Mr. Foster's estate, has graciously given his permission to publish on the Internet the articles in Toward The Mark , of which he is the copyright owner, in the form they appear here.
"If we are to be trained to face and conquer the spiritual enemies of God's purposes, then we need that Bible truths should be wrought into our own personal experience so that we become embodiments of those truths. No teaching will ever be true teaching if it is not worked out in experience. And it is in the House of God, the related life together of believers, that such experience is obtained." (Vol.10, No.6, p.120)
"When I had to choose a title for this magazine I finally decided on the words 'Toward The Mark' (Php. 3:14) because I felt that they helped to convey a sense that those of us who contributed and those who read are all partners together in the enterprise of progress towards the goal of likeness to Christ. This is the atmosphere of this Epistle from which the words were chosen. My beloved friend, Poul Madsen, already edited a Danish magazine called Mod Molet which means just the same. I took the phrase from him as well as from the apostle Paul because the idea behind the words is to avoid any suggestion that we have arrived and are now proposing to help others on their way also to perfection. Rather I wanted to underline that we -- like the apostle himself -- are seeking to practise together that fellowship of the Spirit which urges us to press on together in pursuit of our on-high calling." (Vol.18, No.5, p.90-91)
Toward The Mark was published bi-monthly (six issues per year) and was distributed by mail (or 'post') without cost to many appreciative readers. The articles were printed in four columns of text on both sides of five sheets of 9 X 14-1/2 in. paper that, when folded double and fold-stapled together with a folded cover, formed a magazine measuring 7-1/4 in. wide by 9 in. high containing 20 pages of two-column text. The pages were numbered consecutively each year beginning with No. 1, page 1, and ending with No. 6, page 120. The average number of words per issue was about 16,500.
This transcription of the articles in Toward The Mark adheres to the original as closely as practical with the following intended exceptions:
1. The original two-column page format was replaced by a one-column format with each paragraph delimited by a blank line rather than by first-line indentation. Original pagination is indicated within square brackets embedded in the text. For example, [21/22] indicates the end of page 21 and the beginning of page 22.
2. A short centered line of 16 hyphens was inserted to indicate the end of each article and to separate various other blocks of information.
3. Each footnote was moved to its appropriate place within the text.
4. Each 'em dash' was replaced with two hyphens.
5. Obvious typographical errors were corrected; when doubtful, no change was made. British spelling and punctuation were retained throughout.
Cover of first issue (Used for Vol. 1) |
Cover of last issue (Used for Vols. 2 - 18) |
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In keeping with T. Austin-Sparks' wishes that what was freely received should be freely given, his writings are not copyrighted. Therefore you are free to use these writings as you are led, however we ask if you choose to share writings from this site with others, please offer them freely - free of changes, free of charge and free of copyright.