***In the Calvinist universe, how can the “elect” who “stand fast through faith” ever be “cut off”?***
They can’t. The Reformed believe that the limo ride is binding and the Reformed Holy Spirit frogmarches the previously unaware elect to the limo where the comfort is complete and through the windows of the limo, whilst gorging on celestial caviar and champagne, they can watch the Reformed reprobate trudging without respite directly into hell.
and through the windows of the limo, whilst gorging on celestial caviar and champagne,
Is that what they're talking about here?:
Q. 27.What dost thou mean by the providence of God?A.The almighty and everywhere present power of God; (a)whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs (b)heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, (c)fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, (d)riches and poverty, (e) yea, and all things come, not by chance, but be his fatherly hand. (f)
Q. 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence does still uphold all things?
A.That we may be patient in adversity; (a)thankful in prosperity; (b)and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, (c) that nothing shall separate us from his love; (d) since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move. (e)
Pretty grim world, where it all just kind of happens.