HANCOCK JOHN SOVEREIGN BOND FUND, 485BPOS, EX-99.(J), 2000-09-25

HANCOCK JOHN SOVEREIGN BOND FUND
485BPOS, EX-99.(J), 2000-09-25

Previous: HANCOCK JOHN SOVEREIGN BOND FUND, 485BPOS, EX-99.(H).2, 2000-09-25

Next: WYANT CORP, SC 14D9/A, 2000-09-25




                  CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" for the John Hancock Bond Fund (a fund comprising the John Hancock
Sovereign Bond Trust) in the John Hancock Income Funds Prospectus and
"Independent Auditors" in the John Hancock Bond Fund Class A, Class B and Class
C Shares Statement of Additional Information and to the incorporation by
reference in Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to the Registration Statement (Form
N1-A, No. 2-48925) of our reports dated July 7, 2000 on the financial statements
and financial highlights of John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund.



                                           /s/ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                           --------------------
                                           ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
September 21, 2000