Did John Calvin believe there was no salvation outside the visible church?
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The text you quoted is certainly clear teaching of John Calvin on the subject. He believed that there was no salvation by remaining outside of the visible church, although it is necessary to distinguish that by not assuming that one could somehow not be saved unless inside a church building or attending a worship service. Rather, any person who professed to be a believer but somehow detached themselves from the visible body of Christ (the visible church) could have no hope of salvation or forgiveness of sins.
This is elaborated on in Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 4, Chapter 1:
God alone knoweth them that are his. Still he has given marks to discern his children.
These marks are the ministry of the word, and administration of the sacraments instituted by Christ. The same rule not to be followed in judging of individuals and of churches.
We must on no account forsake the Church distinguished by such marks. Those who act otherwise are apostates, deserters of the truth and of the household of God, deniers of God and Christ, violators of the mystical marriage.
Here again it is clearly shown that those who forsake the visible church are apostate etc.
And later in the chapter, in section 10:
Whence it follows, that revolt from the Church is denial of God and Christ. Wherefore there is the more necessity to beware of a dissent so iniquitous; for seeing by it we aim as far as in us lies at the destruction of God's truth, we deserve to be crushed by the full thunder of his anger. No crime can be imagined more atrocious than that of sacrilegiously and perfidiously violating the sacred marriage which the only begotten Son of God has condescended to contract with us.
However, if the church that one was attending did not show the marks of the true church (the ministry of the word, and the administration of the sacraments instituted by Christ), then it was permissible and indeed preferable to leave such an institution. Having said that, to be in this church-less state is a most lamentable occurrence, and one which should be remedied as soon as possible by joining once again to a true church.
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