as Bellarmine says, Calvin and other heretics concede this, but say that it is to be understood of the invisible church;—i.e., they contend that the only sense in which the indefectibility of the church can be proved from Scripture in this, that from the time when Christ ascended to the right hand of His Father, there have always been, and until He come again there will always be, upon earth, some persons who have been chosen to salvation, and who, during their earthly career, are prepared for it.