All taxes now levied, or which hereafter may be levied in the City of Baltimore, shall be collected within four years from the levying of the same; and the collection of taxes shall not be enforced by law after the lapse of said four years, and the party from whom said taxes may be demanded may plead <cite data-path="23|§23-1">this section</cite> in bar of any recovery of the same. P.L.L., 1888, §840 1915, §843 1927, §843 1930, §843 1938, §1124 1949, §727 1969, §23-1 1861, ch. 94 1898, ch. 123, §843 1933, ch. 498