In the theater, the play is staged before an audience who are called theatergoers; but at the devotional address, God himself is present.

In the most earnest sense, God is the critical theatergoer, who looks on to see how the lines are spoken and how they are listened to; hence here the customary audience is wanting. The speaker is then the prompter, and the listener stands openly before God. The listener, if I may say so, is the actor, who in all truth acts before God.

from Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing

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Gender-neutral version:

In the theater, the play is staged before an audience who are called theatergoers; but at the devotional address, Godself is present.

In the most earnest sense, God is the critical theatergoer, who looks on to see how the lines are spoken and how they are listened to; hence here the customary audience is wanting. The speaker is then the prompter, and the listener stands openly before God. The listener, if I may say so, is the actor, who in all truth acts before God.

from Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing